Organisations of the Moran community in Assam have ramped up the pressure in their demand for Scheduled Tribe status, beginning an “economic blockade” in Tinsukia district on Monday. Under the blockade, they said they would stop the movement of resources to and from the region.
The blockade is being led by the All Moran Students’ Union (AMSU), which is based in Tinsukia, a district with a large Moran population. The Morans are one of six communities — along with the tea tribes or Adivasi, Motok, Tai Ahom, Chutia, and Koch-Rajbongshi — that have long been agitating for Scheduled Tribe status.
On September 10, Moran groups had held a massive torch rally attended by thousands to press for the demand, and the AMSU had then threatened an economic blockade in the absence of action within 72 hours.
They commenced this “blockade” on Monday, confirmed Tinsukia DC Swapneel Paul, who said that protesters had stopped the movement of some goods vehicles in the Makum area of the district. He also said that the administration is in talks with the groups to enable the movement of these vehicles.
“This region, which is home to our community, is rich in important resources like oil, coal and tea. We had wanted some response from the government to our cry on September 10. Since we have not received it, we are stopping vehicles carrying these resources out of our land. We are not stopping any other vehicles,” said AMSU president Palindra Bora, who also said that the organisation has a meeting scheduled for later this month with state ministers on this issue.
Tinsukia SP Gaurav Abhijit Dilip said most of the stopped vehicles are those from Oil India Limited and Coal India Limited. “Around 20-30 vehicles were stranded in the afternoon. But there is no law and order situation in the area. The government is engaging with the organisations,” the SP said.
The issue of granting ST status to the six communities, including Morans, is one that the ruling BJP has said it supports. Pressure on the issue is likely to grow as the next year’s Assembly election draws closer.
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Last month, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said that the government would present a report on the issue in the next Legislative Assembly session and forward a proposal to the Centre after it is approved in the Assembly.
