Himanta to head committee to determine modalities of granting ST status to 6 communities

January 14: A high level committee has been set up to finalise modalities as regards granting the Scheduled Tribe (ST) status to the six communities of Assam. Assam Finance Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma will head the Committee whereas Chandan Brahma cabinet minister and leader of BPF (Bodoland People’s Front) will be the convenor for this committee. The ministerial-level committee will also have ministers Naba Kumar Doley, Pallab Lochan Das and Tapan Gogoi as members.

The communities that are proposed to be included in the ST category are Koch Rajbongshi, Tai Ahom, Chutia, Moran, Matak and tea tribes of Assam. The modalities prepared by this high level committee to accord ST status to the 6 communities will be sent to the Union Home Ministry. This will be done within next 15-20 days.

It needs mention here that the Centre’s plan for the Constitution (Scheduled Tribes) Amendment Bill, 2019, has evoked anger among tribal communities in Assam. As such, the high level committee was asked to ensure that the interests of other communities with existing ST status are not harmed.