Dibrugarh: Ahead of Assam assembly elections, Assam government has approved the inclusion of 37 tea garden communities of Assam in the Other Backward Classes (OBC) category.
The move is aimed at advancing social justice and strengthening the rights and welfare of tea garden populations. It also introduces a streamlined dual-certification process to facilitate easier access to OBC certificates and related benefits.
Speaking to reporters after the cabinet meeting, Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said, “These communities were earlier categorized as sub-castes. Now, they will be given the status of OBC independently. The Social Welfare department will issue a notification soon.
The communities which were given OBC category are- Bhuin, Bhuinhar , Bakti , Bonia , Bhaina – Chasa, Chhatri(Rajput) , Debmajhi- Dehuri, Fulmali, Gonju , Gosai, Hazam, Ho, Kurku, Kosta, Kalar, Kayastha, Kansari, Kurum, Kudmi, Karan, Khoira (Rai), Marar, Mehera, Malhar, Moira, Mal, Pator, Patwa, Paik, Pujar Bhokta, Puran, Rautia, Sonai, Tangla, Ujir.
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Lakhindra Kurmi, general secretary of Assam Tea Tribes students’ Association(ATTSA) said, “Its a good decision and we welcome the decission of the Assam government for granting OBC to the 37 tea garden communities residing in Assam. Earlier, these communities don’t have any certificate and they are various sub-casts but from now on they are tag as OBC,”.
Apart from other benefits, now these communities will get the benefits under OBC.
These decission of the Assam government before the Assembly elections in the state will give a filip to the government because tea tribe communities in the state will play a dominant role during the elections.
“We welcome Assam government for granting OBC to 37 tea communities. Its a good decision and we are happy for that,” said another leader of ATTSA.
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The tea tribe community of Assam has been demanding ST status for the community. ST status is a long pending demand of the tea tribes of Assam.
The tea tribes have migrated from Jharkhand during British rule and since then they have been living in Assam and associated with tea industries.
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