Delegation of various communities submit memorandum to CM

Delegations of various communities called on Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal on Tuesday and submitted their memorandums.

Representatives of Sonowal Kachari, Koch Rajbongshi, Mising and Thengal Kachari communities called on Sonowal at the state Assembly.

The Sonowal Kachari delegation raised the issue of bringing the community into the ambit of the Cabinet sub- committee constituted by the state government to study the feasibility for including some schedule tribes of the state in Constitution's Sixth Schedule which makes special provisions of autonomy for tribal-dominated areas, an official release said.

They also urged the chief minister to take necessary action for increasing the constituencies allotted to Sonowal Kachari Autonomous Council from present 26 to 33 for better representation of the community.

Construction of hostels for underprivileged students of Sonowal Kachari community in the seven districts dominated by the community and a Sonowal Kachari Bhawan at Guwahati were some of the other demands put forward by them.

Holding discussion with the representatives of Rajbongshi community, the chief minister assured to take up the matter of expediting the process of granting schedule tribe status to the six communities with the Union Home Minister and Union Tribal Affairs Minister.

He also urged the community to work for preserving the Rajbongshi language and literature and assured that the state government would extend all help for the purpose.

Sonowal asserted that Rajbongshi Sahitya Sabha had a crucial role in strengthening the Rajbongshi language and they must fulfill their responsibilities.

The chief minister also informed the delegation about the state government's initiative to name 1000 wooden bridges, which were being concretised, after Lachit Barphukan and Bir Chilarai and the plan to build Bir Chilarai Cultural Complex.

He also assured them of providing land for the construction of a Koch Rajbangshi Bhawan at Guwahati.

Later, he also held meetings with the Mising and Thengal Kachari communities and received memorandums of their demands, the release added.