STAFF REPORTER
GUWAHATI: All Tiwa Student Union (ATSU), Tiwa Yuva Chatra Parishad (TYCP), and All Tiwa Protection Committee (ATPC) jointly met with Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and submitted a 10-point charter of demands in a memorandum on Sunday.
ATSU president Seniram Malang, talking to the media, said, "We met the Chief Minister at the Brahmaputra guest house regarding our demands. Our discussions were cordial, and he assured us of positive steps to be taken." Malang said, "The Tiwa Autonomous Council was constituted in 1995, but the council was not included in the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution of India. To make the Tiwa community politically, socially, and economically safeguarded, the Assam government should send a proposal to the Union government at the earliest."
"Our second demand is that the Tiwa Language Agreement, which was signed in 1997, be implemented and Tiwa language be introduced up to class V. In the year 2005-2006, for the recruitment of Tiwa language teachers in schools, interviews were conducted, but till today, no teachers have been appointed. So, we demand the appointment of Tiwa language teachers."
"We demand that the tribal belt and block areas be made free from enforcement. Tiwa Autonomous Council should be withdrawn from the Assam State Capital Area Region Development Authority Act of 2017. To include the Tiwa-inhabited villages that were excluded during the notification in the Tiwa Autonomous Council and prepare the voter's lists before the elections. We also demand to give ST (Scheduled Tribe) status to the Tiwa people living in Meghalaya. The decision to build Jagiroad Satellite City announced by the Government of Assam should be withdrawn immediately. The Assam government should withdraw its decision to declare Jagiroad a sub-district. The Assam government should cancel the recently announced decision to form Neli Revenue Town," Malang added.
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