Isn't about time the ST and SC classifications and reservations are removed
in India? Need to go to a financial relief system based on the economic status
of a family, ST/SC or not. I feel this will produce a fairer and apolitical
system to take care of those who need help. I understand many politicians have
vested interest in maintaining the current system but aren't there even ten MPs
who would start the movement to make a change?
Definition of Oxomiya: How about making it as simple as - any Indian
citizen who has lived in Oxom for say 30 years? If there is a possibility that
some foreigners may pass off as Indian citizens, so be it. Definitely a Marwari
family doing business in Oxom for 30 years is an Oxomiya.
The stalemate in the definition issue is intolerable. This definition will
automatically include all native hills and plains tribes and tea gardeners (see
complaints below). All of these people are as much Oxomiya as the Baruahs and
the Sarmas.
Ravindra Nath <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
Aboriginal tribals disheartened
KOKRAJHAR, Dec 6: A section of Bodo intellectuals and former Bodoland movement
leaders observed that the voice of Asomiya intellectuals in support of Adivasis
has been disheartening for the aboriginal tribals of the State, such as Bodos.
In an interview with The Sentinel, former ABSU leader and co-worker of Bodofa
UN Brahma, DD Narzary said the Asomiya intellectuals always claimed the
outsiders and immigrants of other countries as Asomiyas, forgetting the
indigenous people of the State. He said the successive State Governments have
sympathized wish of outsiders overlooking tribes like Bodos. The intellectuals
of the State are not serious about the killings of indigenous people, human
rights violations, gang rape on tribal women and molestation for which justice
has not been done. He questioned why leaders like AASU advisor Samujjal
Bhattacharyya refrained from calling Bodos and other indigenous people of Asom
as Asomiya whereas they do not hesitate to call a Santhali girl as Asomiya. He
expressed fear and apprehension that the State Government and Asomiya
intellectuals would be bound to lend their voice to the new ST demand.
Narzary strongly opposed the granting of ST status to six communities saying
that the communities are well advanced in all respects and they have been
enjoying political rights and advantages. He said both Adivasis and Rajbongshis
have Cabinet ministers and good number of legislators in the Assam Assembly
since long, but the indigenous tribals do not have such advantages. He also
cautioned both Delhi and Dispur that the tribal would not be responsible for
another unrest in the region.
MP SK Bwiswmuthiary, while speaking The Sentinel from New Delhi, said the
granting ST status to outsiders will not only affect the Bodos and other
tribals, but also the Asomiyas as a whole will lose their rights.
There will be a new power equation in the State politics if new communities
are included in the ST list. Political power will not go to the hands of
genuine Asomiya people because power sharing by outsiders will bring a drastic
change in the political scenario of the State, Bwiswmuthiary said.
The MP asked the Government of India and Government of Asom to announce the
policy of reorganization of the State on a federal plan before granting ST
status to the six-communities, saying that the process of Balkanization is
yet to be completed.
Former president of KDC, ABWWF, Ms Maloti Rani Narzary, in an interview with
The Sentinel, said the tribals of the State are deprived of all facilities and
rights. Both the Centre and the State Government, instead of fulfilling the
demands of the tribal people, are going to accord ST status to the six
communities ignoring strong opposition from indigenous tribal groups. She also
attacked the AGP saying that the party opposed the inclusion of more
communities in the ST list during PK Mahantas rule, but the party is now
favouring ST status to the six communities. This is political opportunism, she
said.
President of All Assam Tribal Sangha (AATS) Ranjit Kumar Borgoyary told The
Sentinel that the Sangha had no option other than launching a vigorous movement
comprising all tribal people of Asom. He accused the State Government for its
failure to protect the tribal belts and blocks, without filling the back log
posts lying vacant for many years.
Working president of Federation of Bodo Youth (FBY) Jangshisu Brahma told The
Sentinel that the federation would oppose the inclusion of six communities into
the ST list at any cost and that the tribals would be adversely affected by the
new ST formula for six communities.
We wont allow Tea Tribes to get ST status: Tribal Sangha
GUWAHATI, Dec 6: The crisis over the issue of ST status to the six communities
of the State appears to be deepening as seven tribal organizations, including
the All Assam Tribal Sangha (AATS), have today made it clear that under no
circumstances they will allow ST status to the Tea Tribe community. The
organizations have opposed the move to extend the ST list as they believe it
will jeopardize the interests and political rights of the existing tribal
population of the State.
Terming the fresh move on the part of the State Government to recommend ST
status for Tea Tribes to the Centre as a political game of Dispur ahead of the
panchayat polls, AATS general secretary Aditya Khakhlari, while talking to the
press here, said: We wont sit idle if the interests of the STs in the State
are affected.
The leaders of the All Assam Tribal Youth League, Federation of Bodo Youths,
All Tiwa Students Association, Deuri Students Association, Karbi Students
Association and the Dimasa Students Union were also present at the press
conference. Khakhlari said the Beltola incident that was triggered by the
unruly behaviour of the Adivasi activists was, in fact, a conspiracy on the
part of the State Government. He said, despite Union Home Minister Shivraj
Patils statement in Parliament that the Tea Tribes of Asom have lost their
tribal characteristics, the State Government is taking a fresh initiative to
recognize the community as ST so as to garner votes. Even most of the political
parties and organizations, including AASU, are trying to appease the Tea Tribes
by ignoring the interest of the indigenous people of Asom, he added.
When the Karbis, Man and Tai-speaking people in plain areas and Bodos in the
hill areas are not yet recognized as STs, how can Tea Tribes, who came to Asom
from other States, get ST status? Khakhlari questioned. On the demand for ST
status from other indigenous communities like the Koch-Rajbongshis and
Tai-Ahoms, Khakhlari said the Traibal Sangha wants a fresh revision of the ST
List. According to him, the communities, who would get ST status, have to
fulfil five criteria indication of primitive traits, geographical isolation,
lack of contact with other communities, distinctive culture, and backwardness.
It may be mentioned here that tribal leaders of the State want economic package
for the six communities instead of according them ST status. They also rejected
the alternative formula to shift the existing 27 per cent of OBC quota to ST
quota by including the six agitating communities in the ST list.
The seven organizations will observe their demand day on December 17 by
submitting memorandum to the Chief Minister through DCs and SDOs.
http://www.sentinelassam.com
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