CM Himanta holds meeting with representatives of Tai-Ahom and Matak communities

GUWAHATI: Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma held a meeting on Sunday at Assam Administrative Staff College with the representatives of Tai Ahom community organizations, including members of All Tai Ahom Students' Union, Tai Ahom Yuba Parishad Assam, Purbanchal Tai Sahitya Sabha, All Assam Ahom Sabha, Mohan Deudhai Bilung Sanmilan to deliberate on issues concerning the community.

The Chief Minister said that a Tai Language Teaching Centre would be set up by the State Government for sustaining and popularizing the language. Saying that Ahoms will be accorded protected class status in tribal blocks and belts of Assam, he said that the Sukapha Samannway Kshetra at Jorhat would be turned into a top tourist attraction and all works would be completed within two years. A Tai Museum at Joysagar and Joymoti Museum at Rang Ghar premises in Sivasagar would be built, he informed.

He also said all worship places of Ahoms would be preserved and developed under Asom Darshan scheme and Sukapha statue would be built at Janata Bhavan in Guwahati.

The Chief Minister said that Rs 125 crore committed to Tai Ahom Development Council would be released by November 30. He urged for utilization of the fund for preservation of lesser-known historic sites and monuments of the community. The proposal of setting up Swargadeo Sukapha Unversity would be considered, he said. For ST status, the CM urged Tai Ahom organizations and Tribal Sangha members to sit in a discussion to sort out issues for moving forward.

The Chief Minister said all indigenous communities of Assam must remain united so that Sukapha's Assam could be protected from infiltrators. WPT&BC Minister Dr RanojPegu was also present in the meeting.

In another meeting held with the representatives of Matak community organizations, including members of Matak Autonomous Council, Sodou Axom Matak Sanmilan, Sodou Axom Matak Yuva-Chatra Sanmilan, Sodou Axom Matak Mahila Parishad, issues concerning the community were deliberated on while discussing plans for holistic development of the community.

The Chief Minister said that Sodou Asom Matak Sanmilan would be made the sole body for granting OBC certificates to the members of the community. He said that a Committee of Ministers of various departments would be set up to fix the quantum of reservation of Matak community in educational institutes. Regarding land related issues concerning the community, the Chief Minister assured that those would be settled under Mission Basundhara in a time-bound and transparent manner.

The Chief Minister also said that the State Government had already agreed in-principle to send recommendation to accord ST status to the Matak community to the Central Government. The Chief Minister said that the State Government would take steps for strengthening the Matak Development Council. He said that Rs. 25 crore committed to Council would be released by November 30. Later, more fund would be allotted depending on utilization and project proposals. He gave assurance of providing land for construction of a Matak Bhavan in Guwahati, making Mayamora Xatra encroachment free, preserving the monuments and historical sites of the community and making Aniruddha Dev Seat at Dibrugarh University functional at the earliest.

Also Read: Survey tribal belts and evict encroachers: AATS to CM Himanta Biswa Sarma

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