Skip to content Skip to navigation

Adivasis resuming agitation for ST status

The Adivasi groups are all set for a fresh agitation demanding Scheduled Tribe (ST) status. The action is starting with a seven-hour rail blockade on December 19 when Parliament will be holding its winter session.

The decision to launch the massive agitation was finalized at a recent Adivasi National Convention where the angry leaders decided to step up protests against the BJP led NDA government at the Centre since before election the party promised it.

The convention is an umbrella body of 17 Adivasi organisations, including five militant groups in ceasefire.

Adivasi leader Birsing Munda told Assam Times on Saturday that its members would block tracks in Kokrajhar, Mazbat in Darrang, Rangapara in Biswanath and Bokajan in Golaghat districts from 6am to 1pm as part of their agitation.

“Now we have decided to mobilise our members to step up protest politically ahead of the Lok Sabha elections in 2019. We demand that the Centre clear the process to accord ST status to the Adivasis during the winter session of Parliament, failing which we will continue to fight against the BJP," Munda said.

He is a former "commander-in-chief" of the Birsa Commando Force, one of the five militant groups that laid down arms following an appeal from the Centre in 2012.

They demanded that the number of designated camps for members of the militant groups be increased from five which are not sufficient for more than 1,200 cadres. The organisations also demanded an increase in their monthly stipend of Rs 3,000.

 

The convention will also organise a daylong protest at Joypur in Kokrajhar district on December 23, demanding justice to the families of 80 Adivasi villagers who were gunned down by suspected NDFB (Songbijit) militants on December 23, 2014. They will also organise a rally here on February 15 on the same demands.

Add new comment

Random Stories

No respite for Ranjan; bail denied

23 Oct 2014 - 7:37am | AT News
Contrary to what was widely expected, a local court in Guwahati refused bail to Ranjan Daimary the bail fearing it a tactic in the name of peace process.Hearing the bail petition along with the...

Minor girl raped

6 Jun 2016 - 7:36pm | AT Kokrajhar Bureau
Chirang Police in association with Basugaon police on Sunday arrested a retired army jawan, identified as Mahen Chandra Boro(62) of Tilakgaon in Chirang district for accused rape of a minor maid...

Rahul Gandhi to visit BTAD on Tuesday

9 Sep 2012 - 3:12am | editor
Rahul Gandhi is scheduled to visit the trouble hit Kokrajhar, Chirang and Dhubri districts on Tuesday. According to APCC, Gandhi would be accompanied by Digvijay Singh. Gandhi will visit some of the...

Subba to contest independently

17 Mar 2014 - 12:15pm | AT News
Finally, Mani Kumar Subba will contest in Tezpur as an independent candidate.Subba, the former MP from that constituency who was denied ticket by the party told reporters in Tezpur that nobody can...

Other Contents by Author

Are you ailing? Wait. Don't lose your heart. A healing touch is what the need of the hour. Join meditation and prayer like the people in Dimakuchi. This healing programme is what the buzzword these days in yhr entire area.The four day Prayer and Healing Festival is closing which was organized by the banner of  Dimakuchi Christian Forum and Assam Soul Winning ( ASW ) in Guwahati. The speakers include Daniel Matt's Becrude and Mia Christine Helgem, a native of Norway which pulled huge crowd from beginning to end. Many of those who attended the programme claimed to have some relief and spiritual satisfaction.
Churches in Dimakuchi on Tuesday observed 500th reformation anniversary holding exhibitions, conferences, panel discussions along with other parts of the globe. Martin Luther posted his famous 95 theses on the door of the Castle Church in Wittenberg. The door functioned as a bulletin board for various announcements related to academic and church affairs. Luther's posting on the door of the Wittenberg castle church were the prelude to Reformation, one of the central events in European history. Protestants observe this day as Reformation Day. The Reformation encouraged the development of an image of humanity that was based on new Christian Concept of freedom. Assam Evangelical Lutheran...
The 22nd edition of the Bodoland Gallants Gold Cup Football Turnament 2017 is going to be held at Dimakuchi Stadium in Udalguri district of Assam from today. The tournament is an All India Level Football Tournament affiliated under  and is jointly organized by Dimakuchi Ancholic Committee, ABSU and Dimakuchi Sports Association in the fond memory of Bodoland Martyrs. A total of eight teams will be participating in the tournament. The teams are: Reserve Bank of India Mumbai, Assam Regimental Centre Shillong, SSB Siliguri, Oil India Duliajan, Apro Guwahati, Jhalaguti Morigaon, Bodoland Army and Orgen Club. The opening ceremony of the tournament is colourful and the first match is Oil...
Body of one Bikash Munda (18), an Adivasi youth was recovered Monday morning in No.1 sonajuli area under Dimakuchi, Udalguri. Police recovered the body from his uncle’s house and further investigations are on.   It has been reported that Bikash Munda son of Rantu Munda had gone to sleep at his uncle’s house adjacent to Nengta Bodo’s house who have fled from their residence since morning. The mobile phone was found at Nengta Bodo’s residence. Injuries on the body were found. Police have taken the body for post mortem.
A herd of wild elephants unleashed no less of terror in Borengajuli Tea Estate in Tangla killing a 35 year old man on Monday.  Identified as ArjunMunda, son of BirshaMunda was trampled to death early in the Sunday morning as he was collecting twigs.
Borengajuli Army Camp under XIV Dogra Regiment in collaboration with the Bhergaon District Committee Youth, BPF jointly undertook an initiative to motivate and guide the young men to join the Army and Assam Rifles recently. As part of the initiative the units established Help Desks at Bhergaon, Borengajuli, Kochubil, Tangla, Khoirabarii and Kailaigaon to provide single window information on recruitment procedures into the defence services. Information pertaining to the eligibility conditions, selection parameters, conduct of the recruitment process and entrance examinations is provided to the aspirants. These young men are also given a free medical checkup and are thereafter given...
Banking in the rural areas especially in the Indo-Bhutan borders is still in a deplorable state. The people especially tea workers inhabiting in the tea gardens of Udalguri district walk miles for their hard earned money. Government and the banks have made it even harder for the tea garden workers who have contributed a lot for the state and central government to run smoothly by their hard work in the plantations. The Hattigor Branch of PG bank was established at Beltolachowk in 1984 but did not last long and later shifted to Paneri due to security reasons. After some years a permanent and a solid building with a better security facility was ventured by the tea estate management and ACMS...
To mark the killings of 8 protestors who had died of bullet wounds on a 12 hour strike demanding ST status to Adivasis in July 25 in 2003, All Adivasi Students’ Association of Assam (AASAA) is going tom observe the 14th Adivasi Martyrs Day today at Orengajuli Market complex on July 25. 14 years have passed by but justice to the family of the martyrs still a pending case. The government and police personals have failed in finding out the culprits and the families have been deprived from government compensations till day despite of pressure by AASAA activists. This day is a memorable event for all Adivasis of Assam. All Adivasi Students’ Association (AASAA) Udalguri...
The All Assam Tea Tribes Students’ Association (ATTSA) Udalguri District in association with branch committee and Sub-branch committee burnt the effigy of PM NarendraModi and CM SarbanandaSonowal at different places of the district on Saturday demanding of ST status, Salary hike and other burning issues of the community. The organization in slogans, “NarendraModiMurdabad” “SarbanandaSonowalMurdabad” protested for the fulfillment of their demands. The GaruajharAncholic President Deep Tanti said “The government both central and state have been blind since years upon our community and use us as a vote bank. But how long will this continue?” He also urged the government to listen to their...
The poor medical facilities in tea estates of Assam have come into focus once again after a tea worker died due to lack of treatment after being bitten by a snake on Thursday. Twenty Eight year old BiptiKujur, a resident of Nonaipara tea garden in Udalguri district, was bitten by a venomous snake King Cobra on Thursday when she was plucking tea leaves. She was immediately rushed to garden hospital, Nonaipara T.E. The hospital did not have the facilities to administer snake anti venom and referred Tangla PHC. More over the doctor examined the portion of the snake bitten area and untied the rope which was in the leg of the patient. On her way to hospital she died. The tea workers, students...