Haflong News' June 10, 2016
Haflong, June 7:Normal life was paralysed in Haflong and other parts of Dima Hasao district
The strike supporters demanded revocation of the decision. All business establishments, schools, colleges, transport services, banks, post offices and other offices today remained closed in Haflong and other parts of the district.
No untoward incident, however, has been reported during the 12-hour strike that began at
"Their condition would deteriorate further owing to exploitation and influx of tribal people from outside the district who have no origin or common history with the inhabitants of Dima Hasao district," Bodo said.
The Bodo Kacharis, having the second largest population in Assam, are a large heterogeneous group
"A meagre 5 per cent quota is reserved for ST (hills) in Assam and if this too is made available to the already-advanced Bodo group, they will have the advantage of 15 per cent reservation. If such a large advanced group of people is included in the list of ST (hills) of Assam, the backward and weak indigenous groups living in the two hill districts will be outnumbered, oppressed and overshadowed,"
today following a dawn-to-dusk strike called by the Hills Tribe Students' Association - a platform of all tribal student wings in Dima Hasao.
The strike was called in protest against the recent Union cabinet's decision to grant Scheduled Tribe (ST) status to the Bodo Kacharis residing in Dima Hasao and Karbi Anglong districts of Assam.The strike supporters demanded revocation of the decision. All business establishments, schools, colleges, transport services, banks, post offices and other offices today remained closed in Haflong and other parts of the district.
No untoward incident, however, has been reported during the 12-hour strike that began at
5am.
The vice-president of the association, Aripom Bodo, said: "We are opposing the decision ofthe state and central governments to grant ST (hills) status to the Bodos. It will be an injustice to the backward inhabitants of the hill districts who are already deprived of many basic facilities and live in poor socio economic condition.""Their condition would deteriorate further owing to exploitation and influx of tribal people from outside the district who have no origin or common history with the inhabitants of Dima Hasao district," Bodo said.
The Bodo Kacharis, having the second largest population in Assam, are a large heterogeneous group
residing mainly in the Bodoland Territorial Areas District (BTAD). They are categorised as ST (plains) and enjoy a quota of 10 per cent reservation in all spheres, including education and employment.
"Some Bodos had migrated to the twin hill# districts of Dima Hasao and Karbi Anglong for livelihood. So their demand for ST (hills) quota is unjustified as they are not the original inhabitants of this land. Above all, the Bodos are politically more powerful and have representatives in Rajya Sabha, Lok Sabha and in the Assam Legislative Assembly, which show their political supremacy compared to many other tribes in Assam.""A meagre 5 per cent quota is reserved for ST (hills) in Assam and if this too is made available to the already-advanced Bodo group, they will have the advantage of 15 per cent reservation. If such a large advanced group of people is included in the list of ST (hills) of Assam, the backward and weak indigenous groups living in the two hill districts will be outnumbered, oppressed and overshadowed,"
Bodo said.
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