Five Adivasi groups on ceasefire meet Sonowal, apprise him of their problems

Five Adivasi organizations on ceasefire along with a delegation of Adivasi National Convention met Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal at the office of Assam Accord Implementation Department. The members of the groups including Adivasi Cobra Militant Force, Birsa Commando Force, Adivasi People’s Army, Adivasi National Liberation Army and Santhal Tiger Force met Chief Minister Sonowal and reiterated their demands of ST status for the Adivasis along with other issues confronting the Adivasi people. They also submitted a memorandum to the Chief Minister.

The members of the groups apprised the Chief Minister that though they laid down their arms and have been on the ceasefire since 2012, no parleys took place for meeting their demands. However, they conceded that after the BJP government came to power at the Centre as well in Assam, the members of the groups were taken into confidence and fresh bout of discussions started happening between the disgruntled groups and the governments. Expressing their gratitude to Chief Minister Sonowal, they also thanked him for the steps the present State government has taken for according the Adivasi ST status. They also requested the Chief Minister for leading the process in facilitating a tripartite agreement with Centre being one of the signatories.

The groups also requested Chief Minister for taking immediate steps for setting up of nursing institutes, vocational training institutes and upgrading the venture educational schools into provincial institutions in Adivasi inhabited areas.

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Chief Minister Sonowal while hailing the groups for returning to the mainstream of the society, said that Government of Assam is committed to protect and safeguard the rights and privileges of the of all sections of the people of the state. Terming the Adivasis as an integral part of the greater demographic mosaic of the state, Sonowal said that his government from the very beginning has been steadfast in fulfilling the aims, rights and privileges of the Adivasi people. He also assured the Adivasi delegation that Government of Assam will be very sincere in meeting the demands of the Adivasis and solve all the outstanding problems.

Chief Minister’s Media and Legal Advisors Hrishikesh Goswami and Santanu Bharali, Additional Chief Secretary Home and Political Jishnu Baruah, Principal Secretary Home Gyanendra Tripathi, IGP Hiren Nath were also present at the meeting.

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