Gorkhas in Assam demand ST status

The Gorkha community in Assam has moved DoNER Minister Jitendra Singh demanding Scheduled Tribe (ST) status and an autonomous council comprising the state's Gorkha-inhabited areas.

A delegation of the Asom Gorkha Sammelan, an umbrella organisation of the community, met Jitendra Singh in New Delhi on Tuesday and submitted a memorandum in this regard.

They also sought the minister's intervention for setting up a Gorkha cultural and heritage centre and simplification of the process for inclusion of community members in the National Register of Citizens.

There are about 60 lakh Gorkhas in Assam, the organisation said.

The demand for ST status comes at a time when the Centre is gearing up to accord the same to six indigenous communities of the state -- Tai Ahom, Moran, Muttock, Koch Rajbongshi, Chutia and Tea Garden.

Union Tribal Affairs Minister Jual Oram recently said the six communities would be provided ST status within six months.

The delegation also said recruitment of Gorkhas in the defence forces had come down despite the fact that the community had a history of bravery in the paramilitary Assam Rifles and the Indian Army's Gorkha regiment.

"The decline is partly because of the reason that a Gorkha domicile certificate is expected from the candidates. As per the gazette notification, the word 'Nepali' is used synonymously for a Gorkha individual and it creates confusion for the recruiting agencies," the delegation said.

They demanded that the Gorkha Community Certificate issued by the Asom Gorkha Sammelan be accepted for employment of Gorkhas in the defence forces.