AASAA stages sit-in to demand ST status, autonomous council

JORHAT: The All Adivasi Students Association of Assam (AASAA) Jorhat unit staged a protest in Jorhat on Monday demanding autonomous council and tribal status for the tea tribes community of Assam.

The activists staged a sit-in for three hours in front of the Jorhat Deputy Commissioner's office in support of their demands. They also staged dharna at the main gate of the office and submitted a memorandum addressed to the Chief Minister with their five-point charter of demands. AASAA said they would take up rigorous agitation against the government if their demands are not addressed by December 31, 2020.

AASAA central committee executive member Rajesh Robidas said, "We have been demanding the government to declare tribal status and to form autonomous council for the tea tribes community since long. But the government has not addressed our demands. We have decided to take up rigorous agitation against the government if our demands are not addressed within this year."

He added, "Being an indigenous community in the State, we have been identified by the government as Tea Garden Labour (TGL) till date. The government has issued caste certificate to the people of our community as TGL which is an utter humiliation to our community. We have demanded the government to abstain from such insulting acts against our community and to give tribal status at the earliest."

Also Watch: The Road That Leads to Assam BJP HQ A Shame