GUWAHATI, June 7 - The Government of Assam will send a proposal to the Centre to include one member from the State in the National Commission for Scheduled Tribes.
Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal said this to the coordination committee of ST organisations of the State during a meeting held here today. Issues related to STs and demands raised by the coordination committee were discussed in the meeting.
Sonowal informed the coordination committee representatives that the State government would move a proposal to the Union Government to include one retired Indian Administrative Service or State Civil Service officer from Assam as a member in the ST Commission. He also said that the system of forwarding recommendations by the Tribal Sangha for issue of caste certificate would continue as earlier.
Stating that the State Government has taken up an initiative to provide land patta to tribal people, Sonowal said the committee for protection of land rights of indigenous people set up by the State government under the chairmanship of former Chief Election Commissioner HS Brahma has already submitted its report and steps are being taken to implement the same.
Sonowal assured that adequate steps will be taken for inclusion of 535 villages of Sonitpur and Biswanath under the panchayat system. He also reaffirmed the government�s commitment to continue eviction drives against encroachment of land falling under grazing land, tribal belt, reserved and other forests, satra and other government land. He said the government would study all the 12 demands placed by the committee and the government decisions would be communicated to the committee.
Representatives of All Assam Tribal Sangha, All Bodo Students� Union, All Rabha Students� Union, Mising Students� Union, Deuri Students� Union, Madahi Students� Union, Tiwa Students� Union, Hajong Students� Union, Karbi Students� Union, Dimasa Students� Union and TMPK attended the meeting.
