Tiwa Community Pushes for Constitutional Safeguards and Political Rights
Tiwa Autonomous Council's Demand for Inclusion
An image of the administrative building of Tiwa Autonomous Council (Photo: @ranojpeguassam / X)
Morigaon, Nov 5: The All Tiwa Students' Union (ATSU) along with various Tiwa organizations has ramped up efforts to have the Tiwa Autonomous Council recognized under the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution. This move aims to secure constitutional protections and enhance political and administrative rights for the Tiwa people.
During a joint meeting on November 3, representatives from these organizations made significant decisions focused on safeguarding Tiwa identity, land rights, and the community's overall development.
They recalled a previous meeting with the Union Home Minister Amit Shah in New Delhi on December 25, 2025, where they discussed the need for constitutional safeguards for the Tiwa Autonomous Council.
The appointment of retired IPS officer Dr. Lajja Ram Bishnoi as an interlocutor by the Union Home Ministry to aid in negotiations was also welcomed by the organizations.
The groups expressed their appreciation to Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Union Tribal Affairs Minister Jual Oram, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, and State Education and Tribal Affairs Minister Dr. Ranoj Pegu for their efforts.
They highlighted the Assam government's notification from August 9, 2024, which included additional villages in the Tiwa Autonomous Council area and expanded council constituencies from 30 to 38.
The organizations are calling for a new delimitation of constituencies and the creation of an updated electoral roll that includes the newly added villages, followed by elections for the Council.
They also welcomed the Assam government's decision permitting political parties to contest Tiwa Autonomous Council elections using their party symbols.
Looking ahead, the organizations plan to hold a significant political convention at the Morigaon district headquarters on November 10. This event will focus on establishing a political platform aimed at fostering the comprehensive development of the Tiwa community and other ethnic groups within the Council area.
All like-minded individuals and representatives from national organizations are invited to join the convention.
In a related development, the ATSU central committee has condemned what it perceives as a conspiracy to weaken tribal belts and blocks under the guise of development.
In a statement released on November 3, the organization claimed that despite numerous requests to the Assam government and district administration to remove illegal encroachers from 17 tribal belt and block areas and to cancel unlawful land mutations, no substantial action has been taken.
The organization expressed grave concerns over alleged efforts to undermine tribal belts and blocks within the Tiwa Autonomous Council area, particularly in Gova and Palahguri, citing urbanization in Jagiroad as a threat.
They asserted that any attempts to compromise these protected areas would be intolerable, alleging that such actions represent a conspiracy to strip the Tiwa community and other indigenous groups of their ancestral land rights.
A mass protest is scheduled in Jagiroad on November 13 to advocate for these demands.