Assam: Adivasi Council marks fourth Accord Day, seeks early tribal status for community

The Adivasi Welfare and Development Council observed its fourth Accord Day at the Public High School playground in Kachugaon on September 15, with community leaders calling for the early implementation of key provisions of the 2022 settlement, including granting Scheduled Tribe status to Assam's Adivasi community.

Adivasi Welfare and Development Council Vice-Chief Subhash Tirkey said granting tribal status to the Adivasi community remains one of the key provisions of the accord.

"Granting tribal status to the Adivasis in Assam is a key provision of the accord. Along with the other provisions, we want this provision to be implemented at the earliest," Tirkey said.

The accord was signed on September 15, 2022, between the Centre, the Assam government and five armed Adivasi organisations. Following the agreement, the Adivasi Welfare and Development Council was constituted specifically for the welfare and development of the Adivasi community in Assam.

The day's programme began with a flag hoisting and tribute to martyrs, followed by a public meeting attended by Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC) Chief Hagrama Mohilary as the chief guest.

Addressing the gathering, Mohilary said the Adivasi community must receive equal opportunities for development along with other communities in Assam.

He also said Adivasi people in the BTC region would be provided land rights on par with those enjoyed by other tribal communities.

The BTC government would work equally for the development of the Adivasi community, Mohilary said, adding that efforts would also be made to put pressure on the government for the implementation of various provisions of the accord.

MLAs Rupam Chandra Roy, Rabiram Narzary and Sabharam Brahma, along with Adivasi Welfare and Development Council Chief Durga Hasda, Vice-Chief Subhash Tirkey, Chairman Asim Hasda and other executive members of the council attended the programme.