Assam: Rabha organisations stage protest in Boko demanding sixth schedule status for RHAC

Voices echoed through Boko–Chaygaon on Thursday, November 6 as members of the All Rabha Students’ Union (ARSU), All Rabha Women Council (ARWC), and the Sixth Schedule Demand Committee (SSDC) staged a massive protest rally near the Co-District Commissioner’s office, demanding the immediate inclusion of the Rabha Hasong Autonomous Council (RHAC) under the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution.

The protestors, carrying placards and shouting slogans, urged the State government to fulfil long-standing promises of constitutional recognition. Following the demonstration, leaders of the organisations submitted a memorandum addressed to Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma through the Additional Co-District Commissioner of Boko–Chhaygaon. The memorandum called for the government to convene the pending tripartite meeting—involving the Centre, the State, and RHAC representatives—within November 2025, as earlier assured by both the Chief Minister and the Ministry of Home Affairs.

Leaders including ARSU President Motilal Rabha, ARWC President Lalita Rabha, and SSDC President Dashanam Rabha expressed frustration over repeated delays, recalling that the Tribal Affairs (Plain) Department had already recommended Sixth Schedule status for RHAC in February 2024. “Despite repeated assurances from both the Centre and the State, there has been no tangible progress,” they said, terming the government’s inaction as a betrayal of trust.

The memorandum further mentioned that the Chief Minister had promised to hold the tripartite meeting by May 2025, which was subsequently postponed multiple times. During a follow-up meeting held in September at Loksewa Bhawan, Dispur, CM Sarma had reaffirmed the government’s intent to convene the meeting in November. However, with no visible progress till date, the Rabha organisations said they were left with no option but to launch a public agitation.

Addressing the media, ARSU President Motilal Rabha reminded that the movement for Sixth Schedule inclusion has been active since 2003. He warned that if the meeting is not held within this month, the organisations will intensify their agitation. “We have already charted out a two-month-long protest programme to be implemented if our demands continue to be ignored,” he stated.

Since October 22, ARSU and allied groups have been conducting awareness meetings across various villages under the RHAC region, mobilising public support for the constitutional demand. Rabha further emphasised that inclusion under the Sixth Schedule is crucial to protect the land, identity, and political rights of the Rabha and other indigenous groups.

He also voiced grave concerns about alleged unchecked migration through what he termed a ‘foreign corridor’, which, he said, threatens the demographic balance and security of the indigenous community.