On Wednesday evening in Dhemaji, Assam, thousands from the Chutia community held a torchlight protest demanding their inclusion in the Scheduled Tribe category, citing cultural distinctiveness and long-standing neglect.
Chutia community stages mass torch march for ST recognition
In Assam’s Dhemaji district, members of the Chutia community marched through the town with burning torches on Wednesday, voicing their demand for Scheduled Tribe (ST) status. The rally was organised by five local groups — Chutia Yuva Sanmilan, Chutia Yuva Parishad, Chutia Jati Sanmilan, Chutia Jati Mahila Sanmilan and Chutia Jati Chatra Sangstha — under the slogan “No ST, No Rest”.
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Addressing the crowd, Pinku Chutia, president of the Chutia Yuva Sanmilan in Dhemaji, said: “We have been demanding ST status since 1979, as we have all the features of scheduled tribes, but we are still neglected.” He added that the Chutia community, found across Upper Assam and even the Barak Valley, maintains its unique dress, food traditions, language and culture, all of which, he argued, make them eligible for ST status, as per PTI.
Growing agitation among multiple communities ahead of Assam polls
The Chutias are part of a broader list of six communities, including the Merlin-spelt ones like the Tai‑Ahom, Motok, Koch‑Rajbongshi, and tea-tribe groups, that have been persistently demanding ST recognition. Despite repeated assurances, they remain outside the ST list.
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma had earlier said the Group of Ministers’ report on ST status for the six communities would be tabled in the upcoming legislative session beginning November 25. The torch rally by the Chutia community adds pressure on the state government to act ahead of the next Assembly elections.
As the protest ended, community leaders warned with an undertone that if their demands are not addressed promptly, the movement will escalate into a wider agitation across Assam, potentially affecting the political dynamics in the region.
