Celebrations broke out across Assam on Saturday evening after the Group of Ministers (GoM) of the Assam government tabled its proposal to grant Scheduled Tribe (ST) status to six major communities of the state. The report was presented in the Assam Legislative Assembly on the final day of the winter session held on November 29.
Leaders of the six communities — Moran, Matak, Chutia, Tai Ahom, Koch-Rajbongshi and Tea Tribes (Adivasis) — who have been demanding ST status for more than two decades, hailed the development. They expressed gratitude to the state government and especially to Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma for taking a major step toward fulfilling their long-pending demand.
“This is a historic moment not just for the Ahom community but for all communities included in the proposal. We thank Chief Minister Dr. Himanta Biswa Sarma and his government for placing the report, bringing us one step closer to securing ST status,” said Milan Buragohain, president of the All Tai Ahom Students’ Union (ASATU), speaking to News Live.
Leaders from the other communities listed in the proposal also celebrated the development, expressing happiness after the GoM report was formally tabled in the Assembly.
The report, presented by Tribal Affairs (Plains) and Education Minister Dr. Ranoj Pegu, who heads the three-member GoM, recommended the creation of a new category — ST (Valley). It further proposed the inclusion of Ahom, Chutia, Tea Tribes, and Koch-Rajbongshi (excluding undivided Goalpara district) under this category.
The other two members of the GoM include Social Justice and Empowerment and Water Resources Minister Pijush Hazarika, and Revenue and Disaster Management Minister Keshab Mahanta.
The proposal marks a significant milestone in the long-standing struggle of these communities for constitutional recognition and tribal status in Assam.
