Non-Tribals in Karbi Anglong worry over Job Reservation
Guwahati: Thousands of people belonging to non-tribal communities in Karbi Anglong district are protesting after a recent report related to a job advertisement in local newspapers had allegedly claimed that no non-tribal candidate would be allowed to secure government jobs in the district.
As per certain reports, this was seen as a major issue for the non-tribals who have been living in Karbi Anglong.
The Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council, Central Selection Board, KAAC Secretariat, announced vacancy for 19 posts in the health and family welfare department under the council recently. But the issue started with the eligibility criteria listed in the advertisement. The eligibility criteria stated that the applicants must be a permanent resident of Karbi Anglong district since 1952.
The advertisement notification read, “As proof of domicile, the candidate, he/she, must produce a domicile certificate issued by the assistant revenue officer (ARO) of the respective circle. The ST (H) candidates have to submit caste certificates in lieu of domicile certificate,” it read.
The advertisement was for the vacancy of one post of statistical investigator (Family Welfare), three posts of ANM, two posts of field workers, two posts of computer operators, seven staff nurse, two health educators, one ophthalmic assistant, one post of microscopic, one post of laboratory technician, five lower divisional assistants, nine leprosy injector, one ward boy, two peons, three GDAs, three IV and one post of chowkidar.
With this, the non-tribal communities of Karbi Anglong started a protest against the recruitment order of the KAAC authority.
The Sodou Karbi Anglong Zila Asomiya Bhashik Santha (SKAZABS) organised a protest meeting at Bakaliaaghat on October 16 and resolved to move the Centre and State Governments seeking justice for the non-tribal people in the region.
The SKAZABS termed the order as illegal and unconstitutional.
It needs to be mentioned that the non-tribal population in Karbi Anglong accounts for about 43 per cent of the population of the district.
The president of the SKAZABS, Akhil Hazarika said that the authority should cancel the advertisement and issue fresh advertisement. “If they do not cancel it we have no other option but to go for mass agitation”, he added.
On October 23, another meeting will be held at Bokajan to protest against the KAAC move, where more than 10 organisations might take part. The meeting is organised by All Karbi Anglong District Student Union (AKDSU), a unit of All Assam Students Union (AASU).
“We just want the government to ensure that the rights of the non-tribal communities living in Karbi Anglong are not diluted in any way. Our rights should be ensured like before,” said Bedanta Saikia, a lader of AKDSU.
Bedanta Saikia, a leader of the All Karbi Anglong District Student Union (AKDSU), a unit of All Assam Students Union (AASU) speaking on the entire issue said that the non-tribals in the region do not have “land pattas” and no non-tribal is given pattas in the district. He added, “How can we or our children get domicile certificate in such a way?”
The KAAC is one of the three autonomous councils in Assam under the Sixth Schedule. which ensures protection of the rights of tribal people.
According to the 2001 census, the tribal population of Karbi Anglong was 4,52,963, which was 55.69 per cent of the total population of the district. The major tribal groups of the district are Dimasas, Bodos, Kukis, Thadous, Hmars, Tiwas, Garos, Rengma Naga and scattered population of Chakmas.
The sale, transfer of ownership in any means including gift, lease, permission to use, mortgage or to bond out any lands owned by non-tribals in Karbi Anglong to any non-tribal has been banned by the KAAC.
The non-tribals have been living in this hill district since the British set up tea gardens here. Later, they came to work in government schools and other government offices and settled in different parts of the district. However, they still do not possess any land pattas.
On November 17, 1951, the United Mikir and North Cachar Hills District was created with some parts of the districts of Sivasagar (now Golaghat), Nagaon, Cachar and United Khasi and Jayantia Hills district of present Meghalaya.
The Mikir Hill district was again rechristened as “Karbi Anglong District” on October 14, 1976. Karbi Anglong District Council (KADC) was set up on November 17, 1951, and was renamed Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council (KAAC) on June 23, 1952.