Non-Dimasas of Dima Hasao raised voice for separate autonomous district
Source: Mithu Choudhury *

Guwahati, October 30 2012: In a view to safeguard their rights in their own place, the non-Dimamsa tribes living within the territory of Dima Hasao territorial council have raised their voice to form a separate autonomous district with an autonomous council.

Demanding to form the new autonomous district under the 3 (C) articles 244 (2) and 275 (1) of the sixth schedule of the constitution of India, Ngaidam Puruolte, general secretary, Indigenous People Forum, on Tuesday said that various tribes living in NC Hills (now Dima Hasao) were feeling insecure at the belligerence of Dimasa people in that area.

"We have been deprived of our rights in many ways including getting job, development etc in our own place.

Therefore, to maintain our survival, we demand separate autonomous district for the non-Dimasa people living in the present Dima Hasao district", Puruolte said.

The Indigenous People Forum, a non-Dimasa platform, was formed in 2008, in protest of changing the name of N C Hills autonomous council into Dima Hasao autonomous council.

But, even after that the government of Assam has allowed to change the district's name, agreeing to the demand of DHD (J) group, in the year 2010 .

"We are being deprived of our rights repeatedly", Puruolte alleged.

He further stated that in the year 1952 NC Hills autonomous council was formed with a view to bring about all-round development to the various backward hill tribal people of the NC hills.

In the inception, there was an agreement of having equal members belong to the Dimasa and non-Dimasa members in the council.

But, as the time passed, the Dimasa people tried to get hold of majority of the seats of the council.

"At first, there were 6 Dimasa and 6 non-Dimasa members in the council.

But, in 1967 and 1978 changes were made and the number of the Dimasa members were increased from 6 to 15 and the number of non-Dimasa were increased from 6 to 8 only", general secretary of IPF mentioned.

.LHima Keivam, president, NC Hills Indigenous Student's Forum further indicated that at present 17 Dimasa and 11 non-Dimasa members in the council.

Contrary to their demands, the government of India and Assam signed the peace accord for Dima Hasao Territorial council with both factions of DHDs on last October 8 .

"Inviting some non-Dimasa people at the time of signing of the recent peace accord does not ensure our rights to be safeguarded.

The Dimasa leaders did not include us or any non-Dimasa people during the process of formation of the accord", Keivom added.

Keivom also stated that as per the electoral roll published by the office of the Deputy Commissioner, NC Hills in 2008, the Dimasas constitute barely 35% of the total population of the district.

"We have been demanding for bifurcation of the district, one for non Dimasa people and other for Dimasas.

We have already submitted the map to the Chief Minister, Home Department and other concerned departments", Ngaidam Puruolte said.

* The sender of this news can be contacted at sivaassam(at)gmail(dot)com .

Comment