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

Assamese Translator

Assam Times seeks English to Assamese translators!
Join our volunteer team.
Email editor@assamtimes.org.

Random Stories

GNRC conducts press club OPD

6 Nov 2016 - 11:38pm | Nava Thakuria
GNRC hospital conducted the last ‘Evening with a Doctor’ program at Guwahati Press Club (GPC) in northeast India on 5 November 2016 for the benefit of media persons along with their close relatives....

Review meets on road maintenance at Dima Hsao

5 Dec 2012 - 4:49pm | Anup Biswas
Expressing serious concern over the delay dallying of NKC and JKM, the Chief Executive Member, Dima Hasao Autonomous Council Sri Debojeet Thaosen warned the NKC, JKM and the representatives of NHAI...

Training for SSA/RTE members at Khonsa

12 Jul 2013 - 10:27pm | Ripunjoy Das
Following the Siksha Ka Haq Abhiyan flagged off by his Excellency the Governor of Arunachal Pradesh on June 8, the SSA District Unit, Tirap has started the Awareness Campaign and 3-days training for...

Lecture series on cultural pluralism

29 May 2012 - 8:26pm | editor
The Sanskriti Anveshak forum of Vivekananda Kendra Institute of Culture, Guwahati organized a Lecture Series on: Cultural Pluralism: Focus Northeast India. The first talk of the series on the...

Other Contents by Author

At a mesmerizing cricket tournament held by cricket club, Harisingha under Udalguri district on Saturday, Hattigor Sahara club became the champions by winning the trophy of the tournament. The final match was played between Hattigor Sahara club vs Rajkhumbri school cricket club. The latter won the toss and decided to bat first but were knocked down with just 58 of 15 overs by the attacking bowlers of Hattigor Sahara club. In the second inning of the match Sahara club washed them with sixes and fours and made the team proud by lifting the winner’s trophy. The match was organized by Cricket Club, Harisingha. The team won a cash prize of Rs. 7000 along with winner’s trophy. Many dignitaries...
On the occasion of International Women’s Day held on Sunday at Orengajuli tea garden, the Deputy Commissioner of Udalguri district urged the tea women workers to come together to eradicate the curse of gender inequality in the district. In a programme organised by the Orengajuli and Nonaipara tea estate Mahila Samity at Orengajuli market complex to celebrate the occasion, the Deputy Commissioner Smt. Sadhona Hojai in presence of Smt. Kamali Basumatary, MLA 64 No. Panery constituency, Sri Suresh Tanti, MCLA 33 No. Nonai Serphang constituency (BTC), Ranjit Deka, President Nonai Sephang Block BPF, Mariam Toppo, President Udalguri district AAWAA and members of various organisations and tea...
Healthcare facilities are not adequately available in most of the tea estate (TE) hospitals of Udalguri district. Almost a similar scenario is prevailing in most of the TE hospitals of the state. Moreover, there is a serious lack of awareness among the TE workers on issues concerning health and hygiene.The Assam Mahila Samata Society (AMSS) has been implementing the National Mahila Samkhya programme and the 1992 Programme of Action. These programmes are envisaged respectively by the National Policy on Education 1986 and by the Union Ministry of Human Resources Development (MHRD).Talking to Assam Times, Ranjit Tanti said the TE workers are not provided with proper sanitation facilities and...
At a time when a village headman looks after the village administration, keeps smooth running of law and order, maintains peace and harmony in the village, the village headman of villages No.1 Borengajuli, No.2 Borengajuli and No.3 Borengajuli Mr. Beni Madhav Rajbanshi has played a role of a villain and attempted to murder his own brothers wife Mrs. Gita Rajbanshi and her daughters Miss Priya Rajbanshi and Pinky Rajbanshi. The three were seriously injured by sharp weapons and have been given first aid. On this regard the injured family lodged an FIR in the Dimakuchi police station but police have failed to arrest the culprit yet. The helpless family of Gita Rajbanshi have now been homeless...
BTC Deputy Speaker Nerswn Boro laid the foundation stone for office of the All Adivasi Students Association of Assam, Dimakuchi Ancholik Committee on Sunday. At the occasion, 33 No. Nonai-Serpang constituency MCLA Suresh Tanti, Bhergaon Block Secretary (BPF) Ajay Singh Gond, Ranji Deka, Folison Sahu, Ex- President Udalguri district committee Pravat Panika and many AASAA leaders were present. An amount of 10 lac Rs. under BTC CD fund was allocated for the office construction. Anjelanus Xalxo, President Dimakuchi Ancholik Committee and the boys expressed gratitude towards Deputy Speaker and the BPF government for their support and contribution.
After a lapse of long period the first monsoon rainfall has brought the fresh leased life to all the small tea growers of Udalguri district. The burgeoning green leaf in their tea garden on receiving the rainfall beckon all the STGS and welcome them to survive for the year instant.
Sahara Club under Hattigor tea estate was registered in the year 2011. And since its conception, the club could not run smoothly due to the inconvenience faced by the then president and secretary, the club could not come up with the adopted events such as sports, cultural items etc. But this preceding year under the presidentship of   Ranji Tanti, principal of Bright Star English Medium school, a social worker, a good leader of the society, the club has risen back and is resuming with the said events. Again, in the meantime the club is also going to hold a champion’s trophy cricket tournament in the vicinity of Khairabari playground of Hattigor tea estate from 19th February. So the...
The Assam Tea Tribe Students’ Association Udalguri district Committee arranged a 2 hours picketing program in front of the Deputy Commissioner  of Udalguri district on the 14th instant and demanded through their memorandum for permanent settlement and rehabilitation of landless tea tribe families and settlement of their land those which has been being occupied by the tea tribe families since a long time, to implement Plantation Labour Act 1951 in all tea estates of Assam, to issue national food security scheme to all tea workers of Assam, Status of water supply, Sanitation and Hygiene practices among the tea garden population of Assam, to provincialize tea estate primary schools and to...
The All Bodo Students Union (ABSU) and Bodo community of Dimakuchi recalled martyr and ABSU co-worker Debnath Basumatary on his 26th death anniversary at his martyr tomb at Paschimpatala  village under Dimakuchi region of Udalguri district  on 7 February.Martyr Debnath Basumatary died on February 7(1991) by an unidentified miscreant firing. Manswma Basumatarypaid floral tribute to Debnath at martyr tomb on his martyr’s day. The martyr’s day was organized by Dimakuchi Anchalik Committee, ABSU in the presence of and ABSU leaders Praneshwar Narzary president Dimakuchi unit ABSU hoisted half union flag and observed one minute silence condolence to mark the occasion. BTC Deputy Speaker...
“Sirish Festival 2017, organized by APPL Foundation, celebrates the unique cultural heritage of Tea Tribes in Assam and West Bengal. The third Sirish Festival, a colourful cultural extravaganza of folk songs and dances, an audition was organized at Hatigore Tea Estate in Udalguri on 25 January 2017. The audition saw the participation of teams from various estates of Amalgamated Plantations and other tea companies of the district. The competition was judged by an eminent jury panel selected from within the tea community led by Shri Subil Barg. The Sirish Festival audition was attended by over 1000 members of the local community, from in and around Hatigore estate.Tribal communities were...