Thursday, March 11, 2010

Photo of metting of Adivasi Development Council demand committee

Gomke Sukra Munda( W.Topno) Presiding the meeting



Mr. Micheal Surin adressing the meeting







Mr.Joseph Minz (GS AASAA)









members in the meeting







Press meet on Adivasi Development Council

Joint Meeting of the Adivasi Organizations
on the Issue of
Creating a Separate Adivasi Development Council
Organized by All Adivasi Students of Assam and Advasi Sahitya Sabha

Venue : Hotel Alankar
Date : 9 March 2010
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Press Release
A meeting of the Adivasi organizations of Assam organized under the initiative of All Adivasi Students’ Association of Assam (AASAA) and Adivasi Sahitya has welcomed the state government’s proposal of creating an Adivasi Development Council, stating that the meeting accepts such a Council as a preparation for the full-fledged ST status to the Adivasis of Assam. Only then the long-deprived Adivasi community of Assam will have access to their constitutional rights, which their counterparts enjoy in other parts of India.
The meeting has strongly condemned the state government for patronizing and perpetuating the derogative and non-constitutional nomenclature – so called ‘Tea and Ex-Tea Tribe’. Can the government of Assam show if it has done any developmental work for the common people working and living in the tea gardens of Assam after branding them as ‘Tea and Ex-tea Tribe’? In reality, by doing this government has been trying to destroy the tribal identity of the Adivasis, and has been depriving the Adivasis from all their constitutional rights and developmental schemes of the state and central government. In fact, O.B.C and M.O.B.C has more constitutional relevance and status. In the constitution, ‘Tea and Ex-Tea Tribe’ means absolutely nothing. The government has been following the policy of segregation and not a policy of integration. It has been following the policy of deprivation and not a policy of development.
The meeting has questioned the handful of leaders from the so called ‘Tea and Ex-Tea Tribe’ who wants to keep this derogative nomenclature. If this nomenclature has been depriving the Adivasis and the labourers of tea industry from their constitutional rights then why these handful of leaders want to maintain it? Is it not for their selfish political gain? The meeting has warned such leaders for hijacking and selling the cause of the labourers.
The name of the Council cannot be anything else but Adivasi Development Council. The Word Adivasi is an inclusive term and it includes the tribes and castes who already enjoy scheduled status in other parts of India. In Hindi ‘Adivasi’ means tribals and hence has constitutional relevance. Constitutionally ‘Tea and Ex-Tea Tribe’ is meaningless and if a Development Council is named after it then it permanently closes the door for scheduling. Besides how can one define an ‘Tea and Ex-Tea Tribe’? In Mangaldai District there are Bodos and members of Muslim Minority groups working in tea gardens. In Silchar there people from Bihar (Hindi speaking groups) working in the tea gardens. Will they also become ‘tea and ex-tea tribe’.

Resolutions:
01. All the Adivasi organizations present in the meeting welcome the Government’s initiative to create the Adivasi Development Council.
O2. The Development Council for Adivasi should be named as the
Adivasi Development Council.
03. The Adivasi Development Council should be named as one for all over Assam
04. The meeting decided to stage dharnas in all the districts of Assam to demand the creation of Adivasi Development Council with the immediate effect.
05. A delegation team led by AASAA will submit a memorandum to Hon’ble Chief Minister of Assam, Member of Parliament and other cabinet ministers of Assam over the immediate creation of Adivasi Development Council.
06. The organizations unanimously condemned the ACMS and groups that conceded to the increment of wages in Tea Gardens in three phased of Rs. 15/- in three years. The floor demanded that the wages in the tea garden should be Rs. 100/- .

Participating Organizations:
1) Adivasi Sahitya Sabha.
2) All Adivasi Students Association of Assam (AASAA)
3) All Adivasi Womens Association of Assam (AAWAA)
4) Adivasi Council of Assam
5) Kurux Sahitya Sabha
6) Munda Sahitya Sabha
7) Kharia Mahasabha
8) Assam Panika Samaj
9) Hul
10) Adivasi NGOs Association
11) Saora Sahitya Sabha

Memorandum to Assam Chief minister

Adivasi Development Council & ST Demand committee

Correspondence Address:

Adivasi Development council & ST Demand Committee

C/OMr. Godwin Hemrom, House No 70, Ward No23, Durgeswari Rd, Birubari Khat mil, Guwahati-16

Chief Convener: Mr.Wilfred Topno. Ph 94351-86899, 96783-20733(m) email: wiltopno@gmail.com

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


Ref: Adc/Mm/2010/08 Date: 11 th March 2010




To,
The Hon’ble Chief Minister
Govt. of Assam
Dispur


Sub: Memorandum demanding Adivasi Development Council for the development of the Adivasi Community of Assam.

Sir,

On behalf of Adivasi community of Assam we would like to bring the following points for your necessary action. The Joint meeting of Adivasi Organizations held on 9th of March 2010 at Alankar hotel where members 11 organizations were represented discussed the issue of Adivasi Development council. All the Adivasi organizations present in the meeting welcomed the Government’s initiative to create the Adivasi Development Council. Following demands were put forward to the State government.

O1. The Development Council for Adivasis should be named as the
Adivasi Development Council because the word Adivasi is an inclusive term and it includes the tribes and castes who already enjoy scheduled status in other parts of India. In Hindi ‘Adivasi’ means tribals and hence has constitutional relevance. Constitutionally ‘Tea and Ex-Tea Tribe’ is meaningless and if a Development Council is named after it then it permanently closes the door for scheduling.

02. The Adivasi Development Council should be named as one for all over Assam.

03. The organizations unanimously condemned the ACMS and groups that conceded to the increment of wages in Tea Gardens in three phased of Rs. 15/- in three years. The floor demanded that the wages in the tea garden should be Rs. 100/- .

We, the Adivasis, therefore, demand for a separate Adivasi Development Council for its own development and progress.

A joint committee of Adivasi organizations has been formed in the name of Adivasi Development council &ST demand committee. If our Demand is not met Adivasis of will start rigorous democratic movement all over Assam.

Sir, we have faith in you and believe that your kind self will look into the matter favourably and give the community its rightful due.

Thanking you in anticipation,

Yours Sincerely,



(MR. WILFRED TOPNO)
Chief convener
Adivasi Development Council &ST Demand committee

Press Release on ADC