AS-RESERVATION-GOM

Assam Government on Monday set

up a Group of Ministers (GoM) headed by Dr Himanta Biswa Sarma

to recommend measures for protection of rights of existing

tribal communities as well as to decide on the benefits to be

given to new Scheduled Tribes, official sources said.

The GoM was formed on the direction of the Centre

following introduction of the Constitution (Scheduled Tribes)

Order (Amendment in Rajya Sabha on January 9.

The bill proposes to grant Scheduled Tribe (ST) status

to six communities of the state - Koch Rajbongshi, Tai Ahom,

Chutia, Moran, Matak and tea tribes of Assam who form a

sizeable chunk of the population of the state.

After examining the ethnic communities' status, the

committee will submit its report to the Centre within 15 to 20

days with modalities for granting Scheduled Tribe (ST) status

to the six communities, but without harming the rights of the

tribes that are currently enjoying the status, the sources

said.

Other ministers in the GoM are Pallab Lochan Das, Naba

Doley and Tapan Gogoi with Chandan Brahma being its Convenor.

Tribal groups with ST status, including Bodos, have

expressed apprehension that the Bill tabled without consulting

them may lead to curtailment of their rights and had even

called an Assam bandh on January 11.

(This story has not been edited by Devdiscourse staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)