DIBRUGARH, May 2 � The All Adivasi Students� Association of Assam (AASAA) today reiterated their demands for scheduling of the Adivasis and rehabilitation of the evicted Adivasi families in Lungsung area of Kokrajhar district.
In a memorandum submitted to the Governor through the district administration here, the Adivasi students� body of the Adivasi community stated: �The Adivasis of Assam have been demanding ST status for nearly 60 years through peaceful and democratic means but the demands have not yet been fulfilled despite of recommendations made by committees and commissions like AK Chanda, Dhebar and Lakur. �
The memorandum, jointly signed by Risha Munda and Rustom Kujur, district AASAA president and secretary respectively, also highlighted how Adivasis were brutally evicted from the forest area of Lungsung on October 30 and 31, and then again on November 22 last year.
AASAA has argued that the eviction was against the Forest Right Act 2006, which guarantees right to the tribal over forest resources.
In the eviction drive, AASAA stated that a total of 6,919 Adivasis comprising 1,267 families (3,303 males and 3,949 females) were affected.
AASAA called upon the Governor to intervene into the matter for early rehabilitation of the evicted families with compensation and financial aid for construction of their new houses.
The students� body has also demanded construction of schools for the children of the evicted families.
The AASAA also wants the Governor to initiate inquiry into the alleged illegal eviction and bring the perpetrators to justice.
