ST/SC status to Adivasis
STAFF REPORTER
GUWAHATI: The All Adivasi Students’ Association of Assam (AASAA) has submitted a memorandum to the President of India, reiterating its demand to grant Scheduled Tribe (ST)/ Scheduled Caste (SC) status to the Adivasis of Assam.
On September 15, 2022, some Adivasi militant organizations had signed a tripartite peace accord in New Delhi with the Government of India and the Government of Assam. The five main groups that signed the agreement are Birsa Commando Force (BCF), Adivasi People’s Army (APA), All Adivasi National Liberation Army (AANLA), Adivasi Cobra Military of Assam (ACMA) and Santhal Tiger Force (STF).
A long-pending demand of the Adivasi organizations has been granting ST/SC status to the Adivasis of Assam. This was one of the clauses of the tripartite peace accord. However, although nearly seven months have elapsed, no steps have allegedly been taken to fulfil this demand. As a result, resentment is brewing among the Adivasi organizations.
A five-member delegation of the AASAA met the Governor of Assam, Gulab Chand Kataria today and submitted a memorandum addressed to the President of India, Droupadi Murmu. The delegation comprised president Samarendra Kisku, secretary Rajesh Kerketta, vice-president Jiten Lamai, vice-president Manoj Surya Banshi, Dibrugarh district vice-president Nipen Munda, Charaideo district president Chandan Ghatwar and Kamrup advisor Basil Maraya.
After the meeting with the Governor, vice-president Jiten Lamai told The Sentinel, “In other states of the country, Adivasis enjoy ST/SC status. But in Assam, the Adivasis have not been granted ST status as yet. We have submitted a memorandum to the President of India where we have appealed to the President to exercise her special powers and grant ST status to 36 sub-castes of Adivasis and SC status to 21 sub-castes.”
Lamai further said, “The tripartite pece accord has a clause about formation of an Adivasi Welfare Autonomous Council. We submitted another memorandum to the Governor of Assam where we appealed to the Governor to exercise his special power and form this Council. We will also meet the Chief Minister soon to discuss our demands.”
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