Protests continue on the second day of Assam Assembly at Dispur Last Gate

GUWAHATI: The protests continued on the second day of the Assam Legislative Assembly Winter Session on Tuesday at Dispur Last Gate in Guwahati.

Protesters from different organizations held placards and raised slogans to show their resentment against the government over various demands.

The All Assam Special Police Officers' Welfare Association (AASPOWA) demanded appointments to Special Police Officers (SPOs).

According to AASPOWA secretary Prahlad Das, in 2012, the Government assured the body to appoint SPOs under the third AISF (Assam Industrial Security Force) battalion. However, till it has not acted on their promise, said Das.

The AASPOWA also demanded that honour of being a martyr should be given to the SPOs who died in encounters with militants.

United Manipuri Association, Assam (UMAA) members demonstrated by demanding the Government to conduct election of Manipuri Development Council, conversion of Manipuri Development Council into Manipuri Autonomous Council and inclusion of Manipuri Community of Assam in the Schedule Tribe (Plain) category under the 6th schedule of the Constitution.

On the other hand, Sadou Asom Goria-Moria-Deshi Jatiya Parishad (SAGMDJP) and Deshi Janagosthiya Manch Assam demanded a separate survey to determine the socio economic condition of the Goria, Moria and Deshi communities. The SAGMDJP members reiterated their demand to form a development council.

SAGMDJP general secretary (administration) Moinul Islam underlined that in the 2019-20 State budget, the Government allocated Rs 100 crore to conduct the survey and set up a development council for the communities. He said the body had a meeting with the Chief Minister on February 11, 2020 where the decision to conduct a survey and form a development council was taken. But till date nothing has come to fruition, he added.

The body appealed to the CM to take initiatives to safeguard the identity of the communities.

BrihattaraGhunasuti-SubansiriUnnayanSamiti demanded the construction of a concrete bridge above the river Subansiri at Ghagar, and solution to the erosion problem in the region with scientific methods.

The Samiti also demanded renovation of the Lakhimpur-Dhakuakhana road and construction of an alternate road from the western bank of Ara Subansiri from Sauldhua to Majuli via Ghunasuti connecting Majuli. Lastly, the protesters stressed on the need to construct concrete roads connecting villages in the region and provincialization of the region's only higher education institute MiriJiory College.

Meanwhile, the Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU), Assam State Committee demanded a minimum wage of Rs 18,000 for unskilled labourers and Rs 21,000 for the skilled ones. Similarly, the Union demanded a hike in wages of semi skilled and highly skilled labourers.

The Sadou Asom Asha Karmi Santha raised the demand for issuance of appointment letters to them as is the case with other employees under the National Health Mission (NHM).

It urged the State government to submit a resolution to the Centre to provide appointment letters to Asha Karmis at the earliest.

Among other demands by the Santha include Atal Amrit and Ayushman Bharat cards for the Asha Karmis, release of pending arrears from 2013 to 2017, and withdrawal of the decision to retire Asha Karmis who are above 60 years.

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