Ranchi
Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren on Wednesday threw up a surprise as he took the fight to his Assam counterpart Himanta Biswa Sarma’s turf.
In his letter to Himanta, Hemant claimed that the tea tribes were marginalised despite their significant contribution to the economy of the northeastern state. He expressed deep concern over the plight of the 70 lakh tea tribe community members in Assam and sought Scheduled Tribes status for them.
“I am acutely aware of the significant challenges faced by the tea tribes in Assam, more so because a majority of them are the indigenous tribes of Jharkhand, including Santhali, Kuruk, Munda, Oraon and others, whose ancestors migrated during colonial rule to work in tea plantations. I very strongly feel that they meet the criteria for ST status, including their distinct cultural identity, traditional way of life, and vulnerability to exploitation,” Hemant stated in his letter.
Hemant also pointed out how most of the ethnic groups of the tea tribes are recognised as STs in Jharkhand, West Bengal, Chhattisgarh and Odisha but Assam continued to classify them as OBCs.
“Despite their vital contributions to Assam’s economy and culture, they continue to be marginalised and denied the benefits and protections accorded to Scheduled Tribes,” the Jharkhand Chief Minister said.
The tea tribes of Assam, while being classified as OBCs, miss out on several crucial government benefits and opportunities due to their non-ST status, including many central government schemes specifically designed for STs, such as the Post-Matric Scholarship Scheme, the Tribal Development Cooperative Societies (TDCS) scheme, and the National Tribal Health Mission, he said.
As non-STs, these tribals are ineligible for many government programmes and schemes designed to uplift marginalised communities like educational scholarships, housing subsidies, and healthcare facilities, Hemant outlined.
“Living far from their ancestral homeland, these tribals may face challenges in preserving their cultural heritage. This can manifest in various forms, such as denial of land rights, limited access to employment opportunities, and prejudice in interpersonal relationships,” he mentioned in his letter.
Demanding ST status for them, Hemant said, “Their long-standing contributions to the region’s economy and culture, their socio-economic deprivation, and their unique cultural heritage warrant this recognition. By doing so, we can address historical injustices, promote social justice, and ensure that the tea tribes enjoy the same rights and opportunities as other marginalised communities in Assam.”
Himanta’s reaction is awaited and is highly likely to come. It is said that it is Himanta who has crafted the policy of an all-out attack against the Hemant Soren-led JMM-Congress-RJD alliance. Under him the BJP has gone all guns blazing against Hemant on issues like the changing demography of Jharkhand due to unchecked influx of Bangladeshi infiltrators, resultant sharp reduction in tribal population, especially in Santhal Pargana, corruption and non-fulfilment of promises made by the ruling dispensation.
