Guwahati, July 9 (IANS) The long-pending proposal to grant Scheduled Tribe (ST) status to six communities in Assam is still under the consideration of the Central government, with Education and Tribal Affairs Minister Ranoj Pegu on Thursday stating that it cannot specify any timeline for completion of the process as the matter falls within the Centre’s constitutional jurisdiction.
Replying to a question raised by MLA Chakradhar Gogoi during the Assam Legislative Assembly session, Pegu said the inclusion of any community in the Scheduled Tribe list is decided by the Central government through the prescribed constitutional and parliamentary procedures.
He informed the House that the Assam government has already completed the exercise entrusted to it and is in the process of forwarding its recommendations to the Centre.
According to the Minister, the Central government had sought a detailed report from the state to assess whether granting ST status to the six communities would affect the constitutional safeguards, reservation benefits, and other rights currently enjoyed by the existing Scheduled Tribe communities in Assam.
To examine the issue comprehensively, the Assam government had constituted a Group of Ministers (GoM). Pegu said the GoM submitted its report, which was approved by the Assam Legislative Assembly during its Winter Session in November 2025.
He added that the report, along with the state’s recommendations, is now being forwarded to the Central government for further consideration.
Pegu reiterated that the state government has fulfilled its responsibility in the matter and that the final decision rests with the Centre, which will take it forward in accordance with constitutional provisions and the approval process in Parliament.
Responding to the query on when the proposal is likely to be finalised, the Minister said the Assam government is not in a position to indicate a deadline, as the matter is entirely under the Centre’s jurisdiction.
Despite the absence of a definite timeline, the state government expressed hope that the longstanding demand for Scheduled Tribe status for the six communities would ultimately be addressed after completion of the due constitutional process.
–IANS
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