Why the Centre is fast tracking the process to grant Scheduled Tribe status to six communities in Assam?

Hillman the Analyst, KalimNews, Kalimpong, 3 April 2015:Apropos Telegraph 1 April 2015 “Hurdle to pact with Ulfa group set to be lifted” is interesting news item particularly it raises the question as to why the Centre is fast tracking the process to grant Scheduled Tribe status to six communities in Assam has far reaching implications of constitutional writ particularly realising the aspects of the Fifth And Sixth Schedules perspectives and implied considerations. 

It is this writer’s belief that West Bengal is now perceived by Govt. Notifications in 2012/13 in the perspective of the Fifth Schedule at least Part B rule 4 which involves the established of a Tribes Advisory Council considering of not more than 20 elected members (MLA/MP). The Fifth Schedule implementation has far reaching consequences particularly noted as the legal aspect of new state formations (sic) presently appealing to the present demand for a state of Gorkhaland. This process according to this writer is already on schedule except the fact that vested political interests are delaying the program to meet political ends. That is, in the case of Darjeeling & Dooars forming a administrative unit outside West Bengal or if you will a State (presumably a Union territory) as the areas concerned are historically acceded territories of Sikkim and Bhutan.

Having the above view in mind as a constitutional indicator in providing the STs their legal guarantees as provided by law (Fifth & Sixth Schedules) the consideration of granting ST status to the indigenous peoples and the tea tribes in Assam state is significant in many reasons than one. Particularly given to understand that once the population of STs increases in a state various Articles of the Constitution come into immediate play and interaction determining the future administration of the area in the state, particularly the designation Scheduled Area of the Fifth Schedule and Tribal Area in the Sixth Schedule. The significance of the news lies in the fact that the six communities recommended for ST status comprising (a). Koch Rajbongshis (b). Moran (c). Muttock (d). Sootea (e). Tia Ahom and (f) tea tribes, being the demand of the Ulfa group led by Arabinda Rajkhowa. Having given up the demand of sovereignty of Assam, surely the six tribes maybe offered an administrative set up or autonomous councils to the group under the Sixth Schedule. That once the groups are listed as ST likewise will be allowed for electoral representation in the State Assembly under Article 170 and Parliament under Article 332 respectively. These rights to reservations could very well be the process towards new state formation also as is perceptually understood is being applied to Darjeeling District and adjoining Dooars intended to become a state or a UT as provided by law (Fifth Schedule) which is being gradually implemented in West Bengal.

Therefore using the yardstick applied to West Bengal (Darjeeling District) and Sikkim with the listing of two hill communities the Limbus and Tamang as ST is considered significant in paving the way for creating the perceived administrative unit outside West Bengal or a state/UT if you will. In a similar fashion the listing of six STs in Assam could well be perceived as creating new administrative units in Assam (perceived as Bodoland) as well as in West Bengal (perceived as Kamtapur out of Cooch Bihar) or a combined unit of Bodoland and Kamtapur whichever legally mandated.

The future vision envisages the partition of West Bengal when North Bengal seems to be provided a separate administration for Darjeeling District and Dooars in Jalpaiguri District as well as Cooch Bihar District as a whole. In other words, the areas identified for legal application include the three Districts of Darjeeling, Jalpaiguri (Dooars) and Cooch Bihar which all combined composed area under the Commissionership of Jalpaiguri Division. Doubtless there is immense political pressure on the said govt. to withhold such implementations. As a result of which all political parties across the board are prolonging this issue in order to gain political mileage in the coming 2016 state elections. However, despite which all considerations, the writing is clearly on the wall that sooner than later the partition of West Bengal is a certainty.

The above legal discourse could be a beacon of light for those aspiring the statehood demand under the banner of the political unit GJM who should find the above context interesting to pave its route to its conclusive end.

T.Pempahishey is a columnist and writer popularly known as Hillman the analyst