ATASU forms high-level panel to scrutinise Assam’s ST (V) tag for Tai Ahoms

Guwahati: The All Tai Ahom Students’ Union (ATASU) on Tuesday held a deliberation meeting in Guwahati to examine the recent report submitted by the Assam Government’s Group of Ministers on granting Scheduled Tribe (ST) status to six communities of the state.

“This issue concerns the future of the entire Tai Ahom community. That is why a detailed and objective review is essential,” ATASU leader Basanta Gogoi said.

The “Chintan Baithak,” organised at a city hotel, brought together several eminent members of the Tai Ahom community to discuss the far-reaching implications of the proposal.

Participants reviewed key points of the ministerial report and expressed the need for a cautious and comprehensive study. Speakers noted that the recommendations could significantly impact the social, cultural, and political rights of future generations. They stressed that any decision on the community’s ST status must be guided by a thorough understanding of its long-term consequences.

Speaking to reporters after the discussions, ATASU leader Gogoi said the report has categorised the Tai Ahom community under ST (V), a point that, he insisted, “must be analysed carefully before arriving at any conclusion.” Gogoi emphasised that the community should not rush into accepting or rejecting the proposal without first understanding its full implications.

Gogoi further announced the formation of a 21-member high-level study committee, headed by former Advocate General of Assam, Ramesh Borpatra Gohain. The panel will closely examine how the community’s identity, rights, and social safeguards could be affected if the current recommendations are implemented.

He added that the committee will also evaluate whether the aspirations and expectations of the younger generation have been adequately addressed in the report.

ATASU reiterated that the organisation will take its next steps only after the expert committee submits its findings, ensuring that the community’s interests remain fully protected.