Assam ST status expansion faces further delays

Guwahati: Union Tribal Affairs Minister Jual Oram says six Assam communities seeking Scheduled Tribe status face a long wait. The constitutional path is slow. Oram addressed the delay Tuesday after a review meeting in Guwahati with state minister Ranoj Pegu.

"The issue of inclusion and exclusion under Article 342 of the Constitution involves a long and well-defined process," Oram said. The path requires recommendations from the state, scrutiny by the Registrar General of India, and final sign-offs from the National Commission for Scheduled Tribes and the Central Government.

The review covered more than just status requests. Officials scrutinized welfare programs, including Eklavya Model Residential Schools and the Dharti Aaba Janjatiya Gram Utkarsh Abhiyan. These efforts aim to boost housing, healthcare, and water access in tribal villages. Oram noted that 350 of 490 planned Van Dhan Kendras are now running to help tribal groups sell their goods. The state and central governments will keep working to settle tribal welfare issues as the bureaucratic process plays out.