GUWAHATI, Aug 4 - The All Assam Matak Sanmilan has demanded steps to place the Bill concerning scheduled tribe (ST) status of the six ethnic groups in the monsoon session of the Parliament.
In a statement here today, Sanmilan general secretary Kajal Gohain said that the initiative to get the Bill passed should be taken by MP from Lakhimpur and Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal.
Gohain demanded that the Central Government should arrive at a decision on according the ST status to the six ethnic groups. There should not be any attempt at according a second class ST status to these groups, he cautioned.
He informed that to chalk out the future action plan for securing the ST status for their respective ethnic groups, parent organisations of the six ethnic groups � the All Assam Matak Sanmilan, Sadou Moran Sabha, Ahom Sabha-Assam, Sadou Assam Chutiya Jati Sanmilan, Chah Janajati Jatiya Mahasabha, Sadou Assam Koch Rajbongshi Sanmilan � will sit together at the Barguri headquarters of the All Assam Matak Sanmilan at 11 am of August 8.
Gohain also maintained that till date, the Mataks have no representative in the State Assembly, nor do they have any representative in the Lok Sabha. Also, there is none from this ethnic group in the senior rank of the Indian Administrative Service. Mataks are the most backward among the ethnic groups of the State, Gohain said.
Therefore, he reasoned, the Mataks should be accorded the ST status.
