Archive · 6 Dec 2025
Tribal body raises objections on ST report
A group called CCTOA met with the Assam government to talk about a report that suggests giving special status to six communities.
CCTOA has some worries.
They think the changes might hurt the rights of existing tribal groups.
They don't want the new status to affect jobs, schools, or other benefits from the central government.
They also want a specific area, the undivided Goalpara district, to be left out of the changes for one community.
The government said they won't take away any rights from existing tribes.
CCTOA will now study the report more and give their final thoughts in a month.
They've also stopped protesting for now.
They want to talk more with the government, including the Chief Minister and the Union Home Minister.
CCTOA expressed reservations about the GoM report on granting ST status to six communities during a meeting with Assam's Tribal Affairs Minister.
The tribal body submitted interim suggestions and objections, fearing the changes could impact existing tribal rights and benefits.
CCTOA demanded that the undivided Goalpara district be excluded from granting ST status to the Koch-Rajbongshi community.
The government assured that no rights of existing Scheduled Tribes would be curtailed under the proposed framework.
CCTOA will form an expert committee to study the report further and submit a report within a month, with all protests suspended pending talks.
- Who
- Coordination Committee of Tribal Organisations, Assam (CCTOA) and Assam State Tribal Affairs Minister Dr Ranoj Pegu
- What
- First formal meeting to discuss objections and suggestions on the Group of Ministers’ (GoM) report on granting ST status to six communities
- When
- December 5, 2024
- Where
- Guwahati, Assam
- Why
- To address concerns over the potential impact on existing tribal rights and benefits from the proposed ST status changes
- Organization
- Coordination Committee of Tribal Organisations, Assam (CCTOA)
- Meeting Date
- December 5, 2024
- Location
- Guwahati, Assam
- Key Demand
- Exclusion of undivided Goalpara district from ST status for Koch-Rajbongshi community
- Government Assurance
- No curtailment of existing ST rights
- Next Steps
- CCTOA to form expert committee and submit report within a month
- Protest Status
- Suspended pending talks
- Key Concern
- Potential impact on existing tribal benefits and rights
