DIPHU, Aug 26 � A joint Congress delegation of the hill autonomous districts � Karbi Anglong and Dima Hasao � consisting of MP Biren Sing Engti, Joyram Engleng and Debojit Thaosen, chief executive members of Dima Hasao and Karbi Anglong Autonomous Councils along with several members of the council met Kishore Chandra Deo, Union Minister for Tribal Affairs and Panchayati Raj.
The delegation apprised the minister of a notification from the Department of Welfare of Plains Tribes and Backward Classes etc, Government of Assam, letter No. TAD/St/279/82/16�, dated December 24, 1982, wherein it was stated that �tribals living in the State of Assam were entitled to all electoral, economic, education and employment benefits reserved by the State and Central governments.�
Tribals who were classified as Hills Tribes (HT) and Plain Tribes (PT) by the State Government were entitled to those benefits irrespective of whether each was living in hills or plain. The delegation also sought support of the minister and also urged him to initiate concrete steps from his ministry for immediate implementation of Article 244(A) of the Constitution.
The delegation apprised Deo that the two autonomous councils were against formation of regional councils in the districts but welcomed the idea of formation of village councils in accordance with the provisions and in the spirit of �6th Schedule to the Constitution.�
The sudden development came after the uprising in BTAD area, wherein around 65,000 persons of Bodo population living in the two hill districts of Assam demanded recognition as Hills Tribe since the signing of Bodo Accord in February 10, 2003 between the Centre and BLT leaders.
