The body spearheading the opposition by Assam's current Scheduled Tribes has issued a warning of widespread unrest after a group of ministers in the state presented a report suggesting that six additional communities in the state be granted ST status.
The GoM, which was established to provide recommendations on how to "ensure full safeguard to protect the interests, rights and privileges of the existing Scheduled Tribes of Assam" while "accommodating the demand for ST status by the Tai Ahoms, tea tribes or Adivasis, Moran, Motok, Chutia, and Koch-Rajbongshi," stated in its report that it finds "full justification" for these communities' inclusion in the ST list.
As of right now, Assamese ST communities are divided into two groups: ST (Plains) with a 10% reservation and ST (Hills) with a 5% reservation.
The comparatively smaller communities in the undivided Goalpara area the Morans, Motoks, and Koch-Rajbonghis should be added to the ST (Plains) list.
With the exception of those living in the undivided Goalpara region, the paper suggests creating a separate ST (Valley) category for the Ahom, Chutia, tea tribes, Adivasis, and Koch-Rajbongshis.
This category would have its own reservations for state government personnel and educational institutions. According to the GoM study, "existing ST(P) and ST(H) quotas will remain fully protected" under this arrangement.
However, as there is only one national ST list, the research suggests that all of these towns compete under the same ST pool when it comes to central government reservations.
According to Aditya Khaklari, principal convener of the Coordinating Committee of Tribal Organizations of Assam (CCTOA), which is spearheading the opposition of the current ST community, this arrangement will have an impact on the ST people nationwide.
ST groups made up 12.4% of the state's population, according to the census, whereas communities requesting ST designation are thought to comprise about 27% of Assamese citizens.
"STs are not categorized in this way at national jobs. Due to their inability to compete on an all-India scale, especially with more developed populations like the Tai Ahoms, Chutias, and Koch-Rajbongshis of Upper Assam, the current tribal population will lose access to employment and educational opportunities if this is put into practice.
He told The Indian Express, "We have demanded a high-level discussion with the Chief Minister on this, and we oppose these recommendations."
In a statement, the CCTOA threatened to organize a mass movement, including railroad and national highway blockades, if talks with Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma failed.
The district administration in Kokrajhar, the headquarters of the Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC), on Sunday issued prohibitions on gatherings in the town and near the BTC Secretariat, citing the likelihood of “occurrence of law and order situation due to activities by anti-social elements”.
"Many political/student and other organizations may organize agitational programs like bandh, railway NH blockade, dharna, strike, etc. in the district," the statement stated.
The directive was issued one day after hundreds of students staged a demonstration on Saturday night in front of the GoM report being presented in the Assembly, storming the BTC Secretariat and causing damage to its infrastructure.
The largest ST group in Assam is the Bodos, a plain tribe. The GoM's suggestions have been deemed satisfactory by the organizations that represent the six towns that requested ST status.
"We are pleased with the suggestions and value the government's action. We are merely attempting to obtain the rights that are rightfully ours; we do not wish to clash with the current ST communities.
Someone must have incited the protest in Kokrajhar on Saturday as it took place before the report was presented and its contents were known.
However, students shouldn't fear since their rights will be upheld," stated Khitish Barman, chief adviser for the All Koch Rajbongshi Students Union.
