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Govt apathy towards SC, ST communities alleged

By Staff reporter

GUWAHATI, May 20 � Alleging apathy from the Tarun Gogoi-led Congress government in the State, the All Assam Scheduled Caste and Tribes Unemployed Association has said that various basic rights of the SCs and STs in matters of land rights and job security were being trampled upon by the government.

In a memorandum to the Chief Minister, the association demanded that the backlog of 29,375 posts in various government departments (information as per TAD/BC/142/96/Pt-iv/23, dated 12th Dec, 2003) be filled up at the earliest.

�We also urge the government to amend the Assam SC and ST (Reservation of Vacancies in Services and Posts) Act 1978, and also to punish government officials guilty of violating laws regarding reservation for SCs and STs,� it said, adding that the SC and ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Rules 1995 be implemented at the earliest.

The association further demanded that Assam be declared a tribal State in the greater interests of checking Bangladeshi infiltration, protecting the political rights of the indigenous people, and overall development of the SC and ST populace.

Another demand of the association is related to granting of land patta (ownership rights) for landless SC and ST people.

The association called for inclusion of autonomous councils in the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution for ensuring self-rule for the indigenous people. �The government should also form the SC Development Council immediately,� it said.

The association demanded that the tribal belts and blocks be protected from encroachment and change in ownership so that they serve the intended purpose. The association said that it would continue with its agitational programmes.

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