GUWAHATI, July 18 - The All Assam Tribal Sangha (AATS) has expressed resentment over the fact that no tribal representative has been included in the high-level committee to implement the Clause VI of the Assam Accord.
The forum of tribal organisations has demanded that a retired tribal IAS officer, intellectual or a member of a tribal organisation be included in the committee immediately.
�Despite being the sons of the soil, the tribal population has been totally ignored by the Union government on a crucial matter like giving Constitutional safeguard to the indigenous people. Constitutional security to the indigenous population of Assam is a welcome move, but not including any representative from the tribal population is not acceptable,� Aditya Khaklari, general secretary of AATS said.
�According to the 2011 census, Assam has more than 15 per cent tribal population. Moreover, tribal people are the original indigenous people of the State. We have been associated with all the movements for protecting the rights and interests of the indigenous population of the State. In such circumstances, we believe the Centre would accept our demand immediately,� he said.
