Centre forms committee to grant ST status to 6 communities

The Centre set up a committee on Monday for granting ST status to six OBC communities in Assam and recommended the modalities for completing the process.

The committee, which will be headed by Special Secretary (Internal Security) in the Home Ministry Mahesh Kumar Singla, would consult with the Government of Assam and suggest the modalities for the required reservations and shifting the existing reservation for these communities to ST from OBC. The committee will submit its report by May 31.

A Home Ministry official said that the ST status will protect the interests of existing tribals and frame a mechanism to ensure fairness of reservations within these six communities and related security considerations.

Earlier, a delegation of six communities from Assam had met Home Minister Rajnath Singh. Union Sports Minister Sarbananda Sonowal and Union Minister of State for Home Kiren Rijiju were present during the meeting.

Rijiju had said that granting of Scheduled Tribes status to the six communities -- Moran, Muttock, Tai Ahom, Koch Rajbongshi, Sootea and Tea Tribes -- was a political promise of the Central government and the whole process is expected to be completed in three months.

Sonowal said Assam is a special case and its issues will be specially taken care off. The pro-talk faction of the ULFA too had been seeking ST status to the six communities of Assam.

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