Guwahati: The Assam govt on Wednesday shifted responsibility to the Centre over the long-pending demand to grant ST status to six OBC communities of the state.Tribal affairs minister Ranoj Pegu told the assembly that the state govt completed its responsibility by submitting its report and the required modalities to the Union govt.The Moran, Motok, Chutia, Tai-Ahom, Koch-Rajbongshi and Tea Tribe communities have been demanding ST status for years. Successive govts have promised to address the matter, but the communities are still awaiting the Centre’s approval for inclusion in the ST list.In a reply to BPF MLA Rupam Chandra Roy’s question about the delay, Pegu said, “The authority to include any community in the list of scheduled tribes (ST) rests with the central govt. Under Article 342 of the Constitution of India, communities are notified as scheduled tribes. The state govt has been carrying out its responsibilities in this process. The Assam govt has sent proposals to the central govt on several occasions seeking scheduled tribe status for six communities in the state.” He said the process cannot be completed until the registrar general of India, under the ministry of home affairs , clears the proposal for it to be taken up in Parliament.He said the Centre earlier returned the proposal to the state govt, stating that a “modality” should be submitted explaining how ST status could be granted to the six communities without adversely affecting the interests of the existing scheduled tribes.Pegu said the state govt has already submitted its report to the assembly, and it has already been forwarded to the Centre. “The matter is now under the consideration of the central govt, and it will take an appropriate decision at the appropriate time,” Pegu said.Earlier, raising the issue during Zero Hour, Roy expressed disappointment over the delay and said the six communities deserved recognition. He also acknowledged the concerns of existing ST communities, saying their rights must remain protected.
