The Group of Minister’s report on granting Schedule Tribe status to six communities namely Ahom, Chutia, Moran, Matak, Koch-Rajbongshi and Tea Tribes (Adivasis) is a sensitive but significant effort in addressing a long-pending demand of these communities. It, in one way, signals a strong and decisive step by a Government which is fully aware of where it stands today among the people of the State. It is also being seen as a balancing act in the sense that despite the ST status, the report talks of rights and reservation quotas of existing tribal groups to stay protected.
Understanding the fact that the devil lies in details, the three member GoM have proposed a three tier classification of STs in the State to take into consideration the unique population spread of these communities within Assam. It must also be kept in mind that this is still an interim report and based on sagacity and wisdom can be fine-tuned to satisfy most stakeholders.
However, the Government of the day would do well to involve the Opposition in discussion to address what is being termed as a transformative document in the annals of Assam’s unique political and ethnic history.
