GUWAHATI: The Cabinet sub-committee formed by the Assam government to look into the issue of Scheduled Tribes status for six indigenous communities has decided to ascertain the population of these communities besides scheduling meetings with existing tribal communities to allay their apprehensions in the wake of the Centre’s proposed Constitution (ST) Amendment Bill, 2019.
The committee (Group of Ministers) chaired by Assam minister, Himanta Biswa Sarma took the decisions in its first sitting here on Sunday. Other ministers in the panel include Chandan Brahma, Tapan Gogoi, Naba Kumar Doley and Pallab Lochan Das.
“The Assam government had constituted the Group of Ministers (GoM) to look into the process of ST status for the six indigenous communities while ensuring that the existing tribal communities are not deprived of their rights. The sub-committee will also look at solutions to the allied issues in the process,” Sarma informed the media after the sitting.
The GoM was constituted on the suggestion of Union home minister, Rajnath Singh recently.
Sarma further said the panel would also ascertain the population of the six indigenous communities with the help of the Tribal Research Institute and other organisations for grant of ST status to the communities in accordance with the proposed Bill.
The communities that are proposed to be included in ST category are Koch Rajbonghsi, Tai Ahom, Chutia, Moran, Matak and tea tribes.
It may be recalled that the Coordination Committee of Tribal Organisations had enforced a bandh against the Bill, in Assam on January 11, apparently apprehending that the proposed legislation would affect the other tribal communities in the state.
“The Group of Ministers has decided to meet representatives of Tribal Sangha on January 28, Bodoland Territorial Council on January 29 and six other tribal councils – Mising, Tiwa, Deori, Rabha-Hasong, Sonowal and Thengal – on January 30. Subsequently, we will meet representatives of the six indigenous communities,” the minister said.
The Cabinet sub-committee will submit its recommendations on February 15.
“The committee will also keep in touch with people engaged in the legal aspects of the process of granting ST status to the indigenous communities,” Sarma said.