By Preetam BC (PNI)

Kokrajhar: A massive mass rally was organized by the All Adivasi Student’s Association of Assam (AASAA) in Kokrajhar town demanding Scheduled Tribes status for Tea tribe communities residing in Assam today.

Over 5000 people participated in the rally with placards, banners and shouting slogans. The mass rally started from Gaurang Bridge to Children park near Kokrajhar Deputy Commissioner office through Kokrajhar town.

A memorandum was also submitted to the Chief Minister through the Kokrajhar Deputy Commissioner Office on the demand. The Tea Tribes are at present listed as other backward classes (OBCs) in Assam.

The memorandum stated that the enlisted 36 Tea Tribes community should enjoy full facilities meant for the tribal such as reserving their representation in academic, socio cultural, socio economic and socio political areas of advancement.

They also demanded that the Adivasis living in Assam including in the 6th Scheduled Hill districts of Dima Hasao and Karbi Anglong should be accorded ST status. They also demanded allocation of additional fund and benefits from the central and state government for development of the community in various fields, autonomy for the community in line with other autonomous councils of Assam to develop, safeguard and promote language culture and other practices.

The AASAA leader said the Adivasi of Assam will not accept any derogatory terms or nomenclatures while incorporating them in the scheduled list.

AASAA president Stefen Lakra, criticized the state and central government on delay tactics in granting ST status to the community.

He said the demand for inclusion of the community into the list of Scheduled Tribes of Assam is not a new matter, rather “it is a matter of recognition of these tribes as Scheduled Tribes because their blood brethren living in other states of the Indian Union are recognised as Scheduled Tribes”.

They threatened of intensifying the agitation if the communities are not granted ST status.