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Tai Ahom Indigenous Rights Forum Holds Executive Committee Meeting in Dibrugarh

By AT News |

The Tai Ahom Indigenous Rights Forum convened its Executive Committee Meeting today at the Tai Educational and Cultural Centre in Boiragimoth, Dibrugarh. The meeting was presided over by Chow Sanjib Rajkonwar, President of the Forum, and saw the active participation of executive members, advisors, and regional representatives from across Assam.

The gathering served as a vital platform to deliberate on the strategic direction of the Forum, with a special focus on aligning the movement for Tai Ahom rights with the principles enshrined in the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) 2007. The Forum reaffirmed its unwavering commitment to advocating for the recognition and rights of the Tai Ahom community as indigenous people under both national and international frameworks.

Key resolutions adopted during the meeting included:

  • Promoting awareness among Tai Ahom people about their rights under UNDRIP and the Indian Constitution.
  • Strengthening legal, cultural, and historical documentation to support demands for indigenous recognition and Scheduled Tribe (ST) status.
  • Engaging policymakers, scholars, and legal experts to amplify the community’s voice in national and international forums.
  • Expanding community mobilization through youth participation, education, and cultural outreach.

One of the significant highlights of the meeting was an address by Rajib Buragohain of Jorhat, who underscored the upcoming Inter-Race Conclave of the Tai Ahom community. He emphasized the importance of solidarity among the diverse sub-groups and lineages within the Tai Ahom society, fostering a collective identity to strengthen their united demand for constitutional recognition.

Buragohain also drew attention to the upcoming caste-based census planned by the Government of India. He emphasized the critical need for the Tai Ahom community to be accurately identified and enumerated in the census, as this will have far-reaching implications for policy-making and socio-political representation.

In his presidential address, Chow Sanjib Rajkonwar highlighted the significance of coordinated efforts and unity at this crucial juncture. He urged all Tai Ahom organizations, youth groups, scholars, and cultural workers to come together to preserve their identity, heritage, and indigenous rights.

The Executive Committee concluded the meeting with a collective resolve to move forward with determination, guided by the principles of peaceful democratic engagement and indigenous solidarity.

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