On 27th Nov 2025 the Assam Cabinet approved the Group of Ministers’ report recommending the inclusion of six communities Tai Ahom, Tea Tribes/Adivasis, Moran, Motok, Chutia, and Koch Rajbongshi into the Scheduled Tribe category.
The proposal is expected to be placed in the ongoing Assembly session.
This step comes after decades of demands from these communities however this sudden approval right before the elections 2026 raises serious concerns .
But the question remains
Is this decision based on anthropological research, legal criteria, and historical identity, or just a political stunt for upcoming 2026 election??
These communities have never been recognized as tribes by any past government, anthropological or ethnographic studies nor they possess any tribal characteristics to term them as “tribe.”
So why to include these socio-ecomonically strong and large community under same category which is meant for vulnerable groups .
These communities are already advanced and highly populous ,they do not fit to be called as tribe , nor we will accept them.
Article 342 of the Constitution of India clearly states Only the President after consultation with the Governor of the states may specify communities to be included as Scheduled Tribes.
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The criteria must be based on distinct identity, culture, traits, tradition, and backwardness
Not on basis of vote bank size
Additionally constitutional safeguards like
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Article 14:Equality before Law
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Article 15(4):Special provision for socially, educationally backward classes
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Article 16(4):Reservation in employment
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Article 46:Promotion of educational and economic interest of STs
are meant to uplift communities who are historically oppressed, geographically isolated, and structurally disadvantaged not those already enjoying majoritarian privilege.
Threat to Existing Tribal Rights
This decision poses a direct threat to the rights, opportunities, and representation of existing Scheduled Tribes of Assam, including the Mising community.
By merging new groups into the same ST (Valley) category something not recognized in the Constitution the government has:
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diluted tribal identity,
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jeopardized reservation quotas,
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and compromised political representation.
This move risks allowing powerful dominant groups to overshadow smaller Indigenous STs.
Failure of Tribal Leadership and Institutions
It is deeply disappointing to say that the GOM was chaired by a tribal affairs minsiter Ranoj Pegu, yet the decision fails to protect the interests of Indigenous tribes.
Our own leaders compromised for their political gains.
Lands belonging to our Mising tribe have already been encroached and converted into non tribal land due to weak leadership, lack of unity and limited awareness.
Call to Action
To all members of the Mising community, TMPK, MMK, TMMK, students, scholars, activists, and youth:
Our silence today will cost us our existence tomorrow.
We must:
Educate our people on their rights.
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Mobilize peacefully.
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Take legal, constitutional, and democratic steps.
Spread awareness within the community and youth.
Organize peaceful mass protest as permitted under Article 19 of the Constitution.
Use social platforms using unified hashtags:
#SaveMisingFuture
#SaveCCTOA
#ProtectAssamSTs
Demand legal clarity, anthropological review, and constitutional process.
We are not against any community or their struggles.
Even their community deserve recognition, dignity protection, the issue can be resolve by providing protection and privilege in another appropriate manner not by affecting the existing rights of indigenous ones.
Final message:
If we remain divided,uninformed, and silent, the Assam govt will continue to exploit us. This is the moment to stand united- not tomorrow but now.
Our identity is our inheritance we must protect it.