Assam tribals upset over govt nod to expand ST list

GoM's report, tabled in Assembly, likely to help 6 valley communities

- PRASANTA MAZUMDAR @ Guwahati

TENSION is brewing in Assam over the proposed inclusion of six communities in the Scheduled Tribes (ST) list.

A Group of Ministers (GoM) tabled an interim report in the Assembly on Saturday, recommending a three-tier classification of STs—ST (Plains), ST (Hills) and ST (Valley).

While the ST (Plains) and the ST (Hills) continue to cover the existing tribal communities residing in the plains and the hills, the ST (Valley) will cover the six communities—Ahom, Chutia, Moran, Matak, Koch-Rajbongshi and Tea Tribes (Adivasis). The government move pleased these six communities but upset the existing tribals.

The existing tribals believed that the decision would undermine their rights and weaken their political, educational and economic safeguards.