STAFF REPORTER
GUWAHATI, Jan 11: The Assam Congress on Sunday said tribal communities in the state were grappling with multiple challenges, including threats to livelihoods and economic marginalisation, largely due to alleged violations and alienation of tribal land and forest rights.
The party said these concerns would figure prominently in its manifesto for the Assembly elections expected in March–April 2026.
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The issues were documented in a report prepared by the party’s Core ST Study Group and submitted to Assam Pradesh Congress Committee president Gaurav Gogoi.
The study group, headed by state general secretary Nirmal Langthasa, was constituted after consultations with leaders from ST-majority Assembly constituencies such as Dimoria, Boko, Dudhnoi and Goalpara West in November last year.
Its mandate was to examine long-standing problems and demands of tribal communities for inclusion in the party’s election manifesto.
As part of its work, the group conducted extensive field-level interactions in the four constituencies, holding consultations with tribal organisations, non-governmental groups and individuals from communities including Rabha, Garo, Bodo, Hajong, Amri Karbi, Tiwa and Mising.
The report highlighted alleged transfer of tribal land to non-ST and non-local interests, which it said had led to livelihood insecurity and economic marginalisation.
It also pointed to inadequate political representation, cultural erosion and weakening of indigenous identity as major concerns faced by tribal communities.
Among the key demands raised were stricter enforcement of existing laws to protect tribal land, belts and blocks, and the grant of land titles to genuine tribal forest dwellers.
Other demands included setting up a tribal university in Assam to promote indigenous education and research, granting Scheduled Tribe status to the Amri Karbi community, and bringing the remaining 312 Bodo revenue villages under the Boro Kachar Welfare Autonomous Council.
The report also noted demands for the creation of development councils for plains tribal communities that are currently outside any such framework, to ensure equitable development and institutional representation.
The party said the findings would form the basis of a tribal-centric Congress manifesto for the 2026 Assembly elections.
