The Motok community, regarded as one of Assam’s indigenous groups with a long history of cultural and social identity, has announced a series of agitation programmes pressing for inclusion in the Scheduled Tribe (ST) list and Sixth Schedule autonomy.
The decision was taken under the joint initiative of the Sadou Asom Motok Sanmilan, Sadou Asom Motok Yuba-Chatra Sanmilan, Sadou Asom Motok Chhatra Santha, Sadou Asom Motok Mahila Parishad, and the Sadou Asom Motok Yuba-Chatra Parishad, with support from various district units.
A massive rally has been scheduled in Tinsukia town on September 19 at 5 PM, where thousands are expected to participate, raising slogans asserting their rights and warning against continued neglect of the community’s demands.
The Motok organisations highlighted that despite historical recognition, including references in the British-era “People of India” report and the 1955 Kaka Kalelkar Commission which identified the community as equivalent to Scheduled Tribes, successive governments have failed to grant the status. They also pointed out that the Registrar General of India had already approved the eligibility for inclusion, but the bill remains pending in the Rajya Sabha.
As part of the continuing movement, the Sadou Asom Motok Yuba-Chatra Sanmilan has also announced further mass rallies on September 22 at Dibrugarh, Lakhimpur, and Sivasagar districts in collaboration with other Motok organisations.
The community has resolved to intensify its agitation until its long-standing demand for ST status and constitutional recognition is fulfilled.
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