HT Correspondent
MARGHERITA, Aug 10: World Indigenous Day was celebrated on Saturday with a day-long programme at the Tirap Small Tea Growers Association conference hall in Longtong, under the Tirap Tribal Belt of Margherita Co-District.
The event was organised by 18 indigenous organisations — Tirap Autonomous District Council Demand Committee, Tirap Mouza Tai Ahom Bhumi Suraksha Samity, Sema National Council, Tai Phake National Council, Tangsa National Council, Singpho National Council, All Assam Mech Kachari Students’ Union, TMPK Tinsukia District Committee, Tai Ahom Yuba Parishad Asom (TAYPA) Margherita Co-District Committee, All Assam Sonowal Kachari Students’ Union, All Man Tai Speaking Students’ Union, All Rabha Students’ Union Tinsukia District Committee, Tirap Tribal Women Association, All Assam Sema Students’ Union, All Assam Tangsa Students’ Union, Pan Singpho Students’ Union, All Assam Deori Students’ Union, and Mech Kachari Jatiyo Parishad.
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Indigenous communities residing in Tirap Mouza under the Tirap Tribal Belt in the 83rd Margherita Legislative Assembly Constituency in Tinsukia district — including Singpho, Tai Khamyang, Tai Ahom, Tangsa, Sema Naga, Mising, Deori, Rabha, Bodo, Sonowal Kachari, Mising Kachari, Hajong, Moran, Muttock, Chutia and Koch Rajbongshi — came together to mark the occasion.
The programme included the hoisting of the International Indigenous Day flag, tribute to martyrs, and an open session attended by Kartik Hazarika, organising secretary of Indigenous People of Mung Dun Sun Kham Assam/Northeast; Markus Basumatary, president of United Tribal Organization of Assam (UTOA) India; Milan Sonowal, vice-president of Janajatiya Mahasangha; and other tribal leaders from various indigenous communities.
During the open session, participants raised a unified demand to define “indigenous” as those residing in Assam before the Treaty of Yandabo on February 24, 1826, and to take steps to protect tribal belts in the state.
They also called for securing the Tirap Tribal Belt by granting land rights to indigenous tribal communities and revoking such rights from non-indigenous individuals.
Speakers warned that if the BJP-led governments at the Centre and in the state fail to protect indigenous land rights and prioritise non-indigenous interests, the communities would respond politically through their votes in the 2026 Assembly elections.
