GORESWAR, June 16 - The All Assam Tribal Sangha (AATS) had allegedly stopped issuing ST caste certificates to the Sarania Kachari community of Assam in 2003 after the community began using different surnames such as Das, Deka, Barman, Barua, Hazarika, Saikia, etc.
In a recent press release, Prabin Deka and Dipjyoti Sarania, president and general secretary of All Assam Sarania Kachari Students� Union (AASKSU) respectively, alleged that as a result, the entire Sarania Kachari people of Assam have been deprived of availing of the ST status.
However, after a thorough discussion among the AATS, Scheduled Tribe Social Welfare Department, various organisations of the Sarania Kachari community and the then minister concerned, Pramila Rani Brahma, ST caste certificates were issued by the AATS to the Sarania people irrespective of their surnames in 2009.
However, on June 4, 2016, under �mysterious circumstances,� the AATS again resolved not to issue ST caste certificates to the Sarania Kachari people, the AASKSU members alleged, adding that if their demand to restore the facility of issue of ST certificates was not fulfilled, they would launch a massive agitation in this regard.
