Assam: Non-Dimasa Communities Demand Separate Autonomous Council

GUWAHATI: Apart from the Dimasas, a convention of ethnic communities has now put forward the demand for a separate autonomous district from the former Assam's North Cachar Hills district. 

The demand was initially iterated back in 2010, when Cachar Hills district was renamed as Dima Hasao, to allegedly showcase the superiority of the Dimasa people. The Dima Hasao district administration revealed that around 71% of the districts total population is formed by 13 tribes. 

The major tribal groups are Dimasa, Kuki, Zeme, Hmar and Karbi. Excluding the Dimasa community, the Indigenous People's Forum that represents the other oppressed communities justified the demand of separation. 

L. Hlima Keivom, general secretary of the convention stated that, the communities are striving for a separate autonomous council and different administration since the past 12 years. The prime reason has always been the renaming of the district.

The Dima Hasao district has a single Assembly seat, however, the convention is appealing for a separate Assembly constituency for the native communities.

Keivom further mentioned about a task force who advised for carving out a separate district council for the left out communities in 2011, November. In the year 2022, several ministers concluded a boundary demarcation council will be formed.

However, Keivom said that no action has been taken till date regarding the matter. The irritation doubled up amongst the non-Dimasa communities as the former North Cachar Hills Autonomous District Council renamed itself to Dima Hasao Autonomous Council, which came into effect on 26th April, 2022.

The other communities are feeling deprived and alien in their own space as the new gate of the council office only demonstrates cultural traits of the Dimasas, the forum mentioned.

The North Cachar Hills District Council was established in 1952, 29th April, which was later known as an autonomous council.

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