Guwahati, Nov 29: The state government tabled the interim report of the Group of Ministers (GoM) formed to examine the proposal for granting Scheduled Tribe (ST) status to six major communities of Assam.

The report, submitted by Tribal Affairs (Plains) Minister Ranoj Pegu — who also chaired the three-member GoM — recommends introducing a three-tier classification of Scheduled Tribes in the state to accommodate the demands of the Ahom, Chutia, Moran, Matak, Koch-Rajbongshi, and Tea Tribes (Adivasi) communities.

To avoid impacting the reservation quotas of existing tribal groups, the GoM proposes creating a new category titled ‘ST (Valley)’, under which Ahoms, Chutias, Tea Tribes, and Koch-Rajbongshis (except those from undivided Goalpara district) would be included. It further suggests accommodating Morans, Mataks, and Koch-Rajbongshis of Goalpara under the existing ‘ST (Plains)’ category, noting that current members of this category “should not have any objection.”

Only limited, sealed copies of the report were distributed to legislative party leaders and GoM members. Opposition MLAs demanded an immediate discussion, but Speaker Biswajit Daimary deferred the matter.

Akhil Gogoi terms STV proposal “unconstitutional”, “election gimmick ”
Reacting sharply, Raijor Dal MLA Akhil Gogoi condemned the proposed creation of the new ST (Valley) category — informally referred to as STV — calling it “unconstitutional” and a “bogus political exercise” ahead of the 2026 Assembly polls.

“Everybody knows the Constitution recognises only two categories of Scheduled Tribes — ST (Plains) and ST (Hills). There is no constitutional provision for creating a third category,” Gogoi told reporters.
He said the GoM’s proposal had “no legal validity” and offered “no meaningful benefits” to the communities concerned.

“There will be no reservation in parliamentary seats, no additional Assembly seats, and no reservation in central government jobs. What is the meaning of STV then? This is nothing,” he said, alleging that the move was a BJP strategy to influence upcoming elections.

Debabrata Saikia accuses BJP of betraying ST status promise
Leader of the Opposition Debabrata Saikia also criticised the government, stating that the interim report “once again exposes the lack of intent” to resolve the decades-long ST status demand.

He questioned the government’s claim that a “vague representation” submitted by an all-party delegation had stalled progress. “So they have pushed the responsibility to the central government,” he said.

Taking aim at the BJP’s campaign promises, Saikia asked: “If earlier Congress governments did not do it properly, what has this BJP government been doing for the last 10 years? Where is the file they said was ready in 2014 and 2016?”

He criticised the announcements of new autonomous and development councils as “backward steps” that fail to address the core demands of communities such as the Ahoms, who have been demanding ST status since before Independence.

“I doubt whether this government will ever give ST status,” Saikia said, adding that aspirations of these communities “remain unfulfilled.”