GUWAHATI, Jan 28 - Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal today assured a delegation of 14 organizations of the Koch-Rajbongshi community that ST status to the six communities would be finalized without affecting the rights and privileges of the existing ST communities and taking into consideration of the views of the existing ST communities as well as the aspiring communities.
The Chief Minister, who had a discussion with the delegation on issues related to ST status to the community and measures for protecting their heritage, said that both the Centre and the State Government had taken sincere steps for according ST status to the six communities.
An official release quoting the Chief Minister said that a Group of Ministers had been formed to take forward the matter and Sonowal urged the delegation to have consultations with the intelligentsia and come forth with inputs which were technically, legally and constitutionally sound.
He added that the Central Government�s move to place the Bill on ST status in Rajya Sabha itself reflected the commitment of the government towards the communities �as this is a permanent House that ensures uninterrupted continuation of the process.�
