Boko, Nov 6: Members of the All Rabha Students’ Union (ARSU), All Rabha Women Council (ARWC), and the Sixth Schedule Demand Committee (SSDC) on Thursday staged a protest rally near the Boko–Chaygaon Co-district Commissioner Office, pressing for the immediate inclusion of the Rabha Hasong Autonomous Council (RHAC) under the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution.
Following the rally, the organisations submitted a memorandum to Chief Minister Dr Himanta Biswa Sarma through the Additional Co-District Commissioner of Boko–Chhaygaon.
The memorandum urged the State government to expedite the process by convening the tripartite meeting involving the Centre, the State, and RHAC leadership within November 2025, as earlier assured by the Chief Minister and the Ministry of Home Affairs.
Leaders of the organisations, including ARSU President Motilal Rabha, ARWC President Lalita Rabha, and SSDC President Dashanam Rabha, recalled that the Tribal Affairs (Plain) Department had already recommended constitutional status for RHAC in February 2024. They expressed concern over the delay in implementation despite repeated assurances.
The memorandum further noted that the Chief Minister had earlier promised to hold the tripartite meeting by May 2025, but the meeting was postponed multiple times.
During a subsequent meeting in September at Loksewa Bhawan, Dispur, the Chief Minister reaffirmed the government’s intent to convene the talks in November.
However, with no visible progress, the organisations said they were compelled to take to the streets.
Speaking to the reporters, ARSU president Motilal Rabha stated that the demand for Sixth Schedule status has been ongoing since 2003.
He warned that if the meeting does not take place this month, a more intense agitation will be launched, with a two-month-long protest programme already prepared.
Since October 22, awareness meetings have been organised across villages within the RHAC area.
Rabha emphasised that inclusion under the Sixth Schedule is essential to safeguard the land, identity, and security of the Rabha and other indigenous groups.
He also cautioned against unchecked migration through what he termed a “foreign corridor” in the region, which he said poses a serious threat to the community’s survival.
The protest concluded with the submission of the memorandum, urging the Chief Minister to ensure that the tripartite talks are held within November and that RHAC is brought under the Sixth Schedule without further delay.
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