Scheduled Tribe Status Demand in Assam
A Group of Ministers in Assam has recommended the inclusion of six communities in the Scheduled Tribe (ST) list, proposing the creation of a distinct category of ST (Valley) to accommodate them.
Protests and Opposition
- Existing Scheduled Tribes in Assam have opposed the inclusion of these communities.
- Protests were noted with students storming the Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC) secretariat demanding exclusion of the six communities from the ST list.
- The Bodos are Assam’s largest ST community and are categorized as a Plain tribe.
Communities Demanding ST Status
The six communities agitating for ST status are:
- Tai Ahoms
- Tea tribes or Adivasis
- Moran
- Motok
- Chutia
- Koch-Rajbongshi
These communities currently comprise about 27% of Assam's population and are listed under the state's Other Backward Classes (OBCs).
Key Recommendations
- A "three-tier classification" of Scheduled Tribes in Assam to protect existing ST communities while accommodating the new ones.
- Creation of a distinct ST (Valley) category for specific communities, with separate quotas for state government recruitment and education.
- For central government reservations, all communities will compete under a common ST pool.
- Permanent reservation of certain Lok Sabha constituencies for existing ST communities through a constitutional amendment.
- Additional seats in Parliament for new ST categories.
Interim Arrangements
- Sub-categorization of the existing 27% OBC quota into seven categories, including one for each of the six communities.
- Comprehensive enumeration and socio-economic survey to determine state government reservation quotas.
- Reservation for OBC communities in local bodies such as panchayats and urban local bodies (ULBs).
- A recommended law to prevent the transfer of land of these communities to outsiders.
