A Group of Ministers (GoM) has strongly advocated for granting Scheduled Tribe (ST) status to six communities in Assam, citing significant justification for the move. The Assam Cabinet has already approved the GoM's report, which addresses the long-standing demands of these communities. The communities include Chutia, Koch-Rajbongshi, Matak, Moran, Tai Ahom, and the Tea tribes (Adivasis).

The GoM, headed by Education Minister Ranoj Pegu and including Information Technology Minister Keshab Mahanta and Social Justice and Empowerment Minister Pijush Hazarika, submitted the report, which was subsequently approved by the Assam Cabinet. Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has stated that the report will be presented before the Assembly and then forwarded to the Ministry of Home Affairs for further consideration. The five-day winter session of the 126-member House is set to conclude on November 29.

The recommendation comes at a time when these communities have intensified their demonstrations seeking constitutional recognition. The Cabinet's approval is seen as a crucial step in fulfilling their demands for ST status, a cause they have been actively pursuing for almost a month. If the central government approves the proposal, Assam will officially qualify as a tribal-majority state.

To address the socio-economic disadvantages faced by these communities, the government is considering interim measures, including land settlement privileges and the protection of land rights. These measures are aimed at providing immediate relief while the formal process of granting ST status is underway.

However, the proposal has stirred controversy in the Assam Assembly. An interim report by the GoM suggested a three-tier classification system for granting ST status to the six communities, intending to accommodate their demands without disrupting existing reservations. The report proposes a new category, 'ST (Valley),' for Ahom, Chutia, Tea Tribes, and Kock-Rajbongshi, excluding the undivided Goalpara district. Moran, Matak, and Kock-Rajbongshi from Goalpara are recommended for the 'ST (Plains)' category.

Opposition parties have called for further discussion on the report, but the Speaker has deferred the debate to a future session. The limited distribution of the report to legislative leaders has also contributed to the demand for a more thorough examination of its contents.

In addition to the ST status recommendation, the Cabinet has approved the transfer and modification of three bighas of land from the Government Muga Farm in Guwahati's Khanapara area to the Cultural Affairs Department. This land will be used to construct a state-of-the-art museum dedicated to Assam's rich and diverse textile heritage. The museum will showcase Assam's textile legacy and will house the famed Vrindavani Vastra, which the British Museum in London has agreed to loan.