Assam: Ensure rights of Ahoms; Committee to verify caste certificates of people of Ahom community

• Image Credit: Prag News

• Jul 12, 2023 | Poonam Nath

Representatives from four Ahom community organisations asked Hazarika to protect the Ahoms' rights...

Digital Desk: Assam's Minister of Social Justice and Empowerment Pijush Hazarika, convened a meeting in Guwahati on Tuesday to discuss the formation of a commission to evaluate the authenticity of caste certificates issued to members of the Ahom community.

During a meeting at Guwahati's Janata Bhawan, members from four Ahom organisations asked Hazarika to protect the Ahoms' rights.

In response to the situation, the minister stated that a new committee would be constituted after consultations with the representatives.

Announcing the formation of a new committee, he stated, "We addressed the challenges faced in issuing caste certificates to the Ahom community and discussed potential solutions." he added in his statement.

"This society will work towards resolving these issues with Cabinet approval in the coming days," he added. We are hopeful that this action will make it easier for the Ahom community to get caste certificates."

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During the conference, it was decided that the committee would be made up of individuals chosen by representatives of Ahom organisations, who would be given the authority to verify the legitimacy of caste certificate applications, he said.

Underscoring the significance of the issues confronting members of the Ahom community, the minister stated that to expedite the process, the new committee would be required to register under the Societies Registration Act 1960, and a proposal would be submitted to the Cabinet for approval.

The minister believed that shortly, the distribution of caste certificates to the Ahom community would be simple and equitable.

Binita Pegu, secretary of the state Department of Tribal Affairs (plains), Kulashree Nath, director of the Welfare of SC, and other senior members of the relevant department were present at the meeting.