Centre sets up committee to decide on ST status to six communities in poll-bound Assam

New Delhi: The Union Government on Monday set up a committee to consider granting Schedule Tribe (ST) status to six communities of Assam.

The committee, which would be headed by Special Secretary (Internal Security) of Ministry of Home Affairs Mahesh Kumar Singla, will recommend the modalities for granting of Scheduled Tribe status to Koch Rajbongshi, Moran, Matak, Tai Ahom, Chutia and Adivasi (Tea Tribes) communities in Assam.

The Committee, in consultation with the Government of Assam, suggest the modalities for the required reservations, of shifting the existing reservation for these communities from OBC to ST, protecting the interests of existing tribes, a mechanism to ensure fairness of reservations within these six communities and related security considerations.

The Committee will submit its report by May 31, 2016.