Guwahati: The debate over whether to include the Rabha Hasong community in the sixth schedule has recently acquired steam.
Tribal Welfare Minister Dr. Ranoj Pegu has said that a Cabinet subcommittee will deliver its findings on the subject in two months.
The announcement was made when Durga Das Boro brought up the subject during Assembly zero hour. Boro emphasised the community of Rabha Hasong’s long-standing demand to be placed in the Sixth Schedule, which would provide them more autonomy and self-governance.
Tribal territories are to be governed in accordance with the provisions of the Indian Constitution’s Sixth Schedule in the states of Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura, and Mizoram. It seeks to maintain the distinctive culture and way of life of tribal groups while fostering their social, economic, and educational development.
The Rabha Hasong community, which is mainly concentrated in Assam’s western districts, has demanded inclusion in the Sixth Schedule for numerous years. They have maintained that it would allow them to further their overall development while safeguarding their land, language, and culture.
The viability of incorporating the Rabha Hasong group in the Sixth Schedule and whatever benefits it might have been expected to be clarified in the Cabinet subcommittee’s report. This development has been welcomed by members of the community and is being closely monitored by stakeholders in the region.