Inclusion of OBC groups in ST list by Assam govt opposed

THE ASSAM GOVT PLAN TO INCLUDE SIX OBC COMMUNITIES IN THE ST LIST HAS BEEN OPPOSED BY REPRESENTATIVES OF THE TRIBES

NEW DELHI: The Assam government’s assurance to include six OBC communities on the ST list in the state is being opposed by the representatives of the tribes that are on the list on grounds that it would deprive them of the benefits of reservation.

On Friday, when PM was in Guwahati to inaugurate the 9.15km long Dhola-Sadiya bridge between Assam and Arunachal Pradesh, members of these communities were in Delhi demanding for the protection of their rights. As many as 19 tribal communities under the umbrella of the Coordination Committee of Tribal Organisations of Assam, have opposed the move to include Ahoms, Koch-Rajbangshis, Morans, Mataks, Chutiyas, and Adivasis (tea tribes) in the tribal list.

The ST list in Assam includes communities such as the Bodo, Tiwa, Karbi, Dimasa, Mising, Sonowal, Garo and Deuri. These tribal communities are worried that if these “advanced and populous” communities are recognised as tribes, they would corner the bulk of the quotas in jobs and educational institutions.

The inclusion of these six communities on the tribal list has been the ruling BJP’s poll promise. In April, chief minister Sarbanand Sonowal met the representatives of these communities and reiterated his government’s commitment to fulfil the promise.

The Centre has set up a committee to examine the proposal and is expected to submit its report by the end of June.

But the tribal communities are worried. They have urged the government to rethink the proposal, pointing out that inclusion of the communities that are politicallyand economically powerful would “decimate” the tribals.

The CCTOA referred to the 1996 decision of granting tribal status to the Koch-Rajbangshis through an ordinance.