Soren Urges Assam CM Sarma to Grant ST Status to Tea Tribes

Jharkhand CM Hemant Soren has written to Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma, seeking ST status for tea tribes in Assam, citing their marginalization despite significant economic contributions. Soren highlighted the community’s historical roots and vulnerability, arguing that they meet the criteria for ST status and deserve protections accorded to Scheduled Tribes.

Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren has written to Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, urging him to grant Scheduled Tribes (ST) status to the tea tribes in Assam. Soren emphasized that despite their significant economic contributions, the community remains marginalized and is currently categorized as Other Backward Class (OBC) in Assam.

Soren expressed concern over the plight of the tea tribe community, which numbers around seven million, and highlighted their historical roots in Jharkhand. He pointed out that many members of the tea tribes, including Santhali, Kuruk, Munda, and Oraon, were brought to Assam during the colonial era to work in tea plantations. These groups are already recognized as ST in Jharkhand, West Bengal, Chhattisgarh, and Odisha, but remain classified as OBCs in Assam.

Soren argued that the tea tribes meet the criteria for ST status due to their distinct cultural identity, traditional way of life, and vulnerability to exploitation. He noted that granting them ST status would provide the benefits and protections they deserve, aligning with how they are classified in other states.

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Sarma, who is also the BJP’s co-in-charge in election-bound Jharkhand, has been critical of the Soren-led alliance government, accusing it of failing to protect the tribal population and alleging demographic changes due to Bangladeshi infiltration. Soren’s appeal aims to address the longstanding marginalization of the tea tribes and push for their recognition as ST in Assam.