Tai Ahom Community Resumes Push for Scheduled Tribe Status in Assam
Renewed Demands for ST Status
Guwahati, July 30: The Tai Ahom community has reignited its call for expedited recognition as a Scheduled Tribe (ST) after a six-week hiatus, with a rally held on Wednesday.
Organized by the All Tai Ahom Students’ Union (ATASU), the "Dispur Gherao" event saw a large number of participants from various parts of Assam marching through Guwahati.
Protesters, some clad in traditional clothing, chanted slogans like “No ST, no rest!” as they made their way to the Secretariat to present a memorandum to Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma.
One protester emphasized, “If the government genuinely cares about the future of Assam’s indigenous populations, it must grant ST status to the Ahoms and other qualifying groups. With the Monsoon Session of Parliament currently in session, we demand the passage of the Scheduled Tribes Amendment Bill during this time.”
The community's demands also encompass the establishment of a Tai Ahom Autonomous Council, land rights for indigenous groups in Assam, and the removal of illegal settlers from all areas of the state.
The push for ST status for six communities in Assam, including the Tai Ahoms, has been ongoing since 2014, when Prime Minister Narendra Modi promised to address their issues shortly after taking office.
As per central government guidelines, all six communities reportedly fulfill the five criteria necessary for ST classification: primitive traits, unique culture, geographical isolation, reluctance to engage with the broader population, and economic and educational disadvantages.
The Scheduled Tribes Amendment Bill was introduced in the Rajya Sabha on January 8, 2019, indicating that ST status had been approved for these six communities. However, it remains unpassed and is still pending.
In June, Union Tribal Affairs Minister Jual Oram stated that the Ministry is actively considering the request for ST status for the six communities in Assam.
The communities advocating for Scheduled Tribe status include Tai-Ahom, Matak, Moran, Chutia, Koch-Rajbanshi, and Adivasi-tea tribes.