Assam: Adivasi student body holds protest, demands ST status for community

The All Adivasi Student Association of Assam (AASAA) held a protest today at Ledo in Assam's Tinsukia district demanding Scheduled Tribe (ST) status to the community. 

The protest was held at the premises of the Ledo tea estate in protest against the BJP governments at the state and the Centre. 

Sanjay Barla, president of AASAA Margherita branch committee, said that in the year before the 2014 Lok Sabha polls, BJP had promised and assured that if they come to power than ST status will be given to the Adivasi community people living in Assam but now 10 years of BJP government have gone by but nothing have been fulfilled.

Sanjay Barla further said that they are demanding to BJP led Government both at Union and State to immediately give ST status to Adivasi community people living in Assam, to provide land pattas, to develop Schools and Hospitals of tea gardens and to give Rs 551 as daily wages to all Tea garden workers of Assam. He further stated that the if demands doesn't get fulfilled, then AASAA will be boycotting BJP in the upcoming Lok Sabha polls. 

Noteworthy is that the Adivasis and the tea tribe community is considered a crucial voter base in Assam and the BJP has been reportedly reaping benefits as it has managed to secure a vote bank among the community.