In an apparent bid to placate the agitating tribal community just before the local bodies polls scheduled to start on December 31, the Assam government has promised special development council for the community.
Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi on Monday informed that the state government had decided to constitute six development councils for all round development of tribals and five other ethnic communities -- Tai Ahom, Moran, Motok, Chutia and Koch Rajbongshis -- who have been agitating for Scheduled Tribe status.
"The new model is aimed at facilitating rapid all round development of these communities sans they are being recognized as the ST communities by the hovernment of India," he said.
Assam government had earlier recommended grant of ST status to these communities to the central government, but the latter rejected the proposal. The Registrar General of India has opposed to granting ST status to tribals in Assam, notwithstanding a unanimous decision of Assam cabinet in this regard, on the ground that the community had migrated to the state from other states of the country about 150
ar">