SHILLONG: The Ex-ANVC-B political secretary, Dogamdot Rangra, has raised concern with regard to the Assam government’s move on categorising some tribes as “Other STs”.
As per a recent news item broadcast in the Prag News Channel, Assam has decided to include a new category called “Other Scheduled Tribe” to accommodate the other communities of Assam such as Koch, Rajbongshi, Abom, Moran, Matak, Chut-yia, etc, Rangra said. These are the communities who have been demanding for inclusion into the list of STs in Assam.
He said that this move may also affect the Garo and Hajong tribes.
The Garos and Hajong communities of Assam had already been included in list of STs by Constiutional Amendment in January 2003.
He said that the inclusion of the Garos and Hajongs in the list of “Other STs” has no logic as these communities are not demanding inclusion in any category.
He demanded that the Assam Government should come clear in the policy and disclose it before a final decision is made.
