Centre Reconstitutes Committee to Discuss ST Status for Assam Communities

Centre's Initiative on Scheduled Tribe Status

On August 1, New Delhi announced that there is no constitutional basis for granting interim Scheduled Tribe (ST) status to any community. In response, the government has reformed a committee made up of ministers from Assam to engage with various community leaders and representatives regarding the ST status for six specific communities in the state.

As per the Union Ministry of Tribal Affairs, this committee will assess the reservation needs for the six communities: Chutia, Koch-Rajbongshi, Matak, Moran, Tai-Ahom, and Tea Tribes. It will also recommend adjustments to the reservation for Other Backward Classes (OBCs) following the establishment of a new ST category in Assam, while ensuring that the rights and privileges of the current STs are fully protected.

In the Lok Sabha, Union Minister of State for Tribal Affairs Durgadas Uikey addressed an unstarred question posed by Congress MPs Rakibul Hussain and Pradyut Bordoloi, stating that the previous committee had conducted multiple discussions with community leaders. This committee has now been restructured to continue its work.