Has the Assam Cabinet Approved ST Status for Six Communities?
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Scheduled Tribe status approved for six communities.
- Establishment of a new heritage museum.
- New service rules aim to enhance quality at the Assam Training Centre.
- The museum will focus on preserving Assam’s Muga silk heritage.
- Government prioritizes cultural heritage and community rights.
In a significant development on November 26, Guwahati (NationPress) – The Assam Cabinet, led by Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, has given the green light to a series of pivotal decisions. This includes the endorsement of the Group of Ministers (GoM) report proposing to grant Scheduled Tribe (ST) status to six prominent communities within the state, alongside land allocation for a heritage museum and new service regulations for a training center.
The Cabinet has approved the report put together by a three-member GoM regarding the proposal to confer Scheduled Tribe status on the Tai Ahom, Chutia, Moran, Motok, Koch-Rajbongshi, and Tea Tribes (Adivasis) communities.
This report will soon be presented in the Assam Legislative Assembly before being sent to the Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India, for further necessary actions.
The GoM was led by Assam Minister Dr. Ranoj Pegu, with Pijush Hazarika and Keshab Mahanta as its other members.
Additionally, in a move to preserve the rich cultural heritage of the state, the Cabinet has approved the modification and transfer of three bighas of land at the Government Muga Farm, Reshom Nagar in Khanapara, Guwahati. This land, currently under the Handloom, Textiles and Sericulture Department, will be transitioned to the Cultural Affairs Department for establishing a state-of-the-art museum.
The upcoming museum is a top priority for the state government and will emphasize the preservation and promotion of Assam’s globally esteemed silk heritage, particularly the Muga silk. A key feature of the museum will be the display of the historic ‘Vrindavani Vastra’, which is being loaned from the British Museum in London.
Moreover, the Cabinet has ratified the Assam Survey and Settlement Training Centre Teachers’ Service Rules, 2025. These new regulations will dictate the recruitment process, service conditions, and career growth of teachers at the Assam Survey and Settlement Training Centre (ASSTC), located in Dakhingaon, Guwahati.
This initiative aims to bolster institutional capacity, assure transparency in appointments, and elevate the overall quality of training offered at the center.