Guwahati: The All Assam Ahom Association (Sadou Asam Ahom Sabha) has voiced strong support for the Karbi community in Karbi Anglong.
It said the long-standing demands of indigenous people for land, political, and socio-economic rights must be protected under the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution of India.
In a press release dated December 24, the association said it stands fully with the Karbi people in their effort to protect their rights in the Sixth Schedule hill district.
The central committee of the organisation, founded in 1893, issued the statement and its president Chao Sasanka Neog and general secretary Chao Tapan Kumar Gogoi signed it.
The Ahom Sabha raised concerns over what it described as a steady influx of people from outside Karbi Anglong, alleging that migrants have settled in areas constitutionally protected under the Sixth Schedule.
It said land meant for indigenous communities, including Village Grazing Reserves (VGRs) and Professional Grazing Reserves (PGRs), is being encroached upon and converted into settlements.
The statement added that the situation is particularly serious in West Karbi Anglong, where the indigenous Karbi population has reportedly declined over the past 15 years.
Citing Karbi agitation leaders, the Ahom Sabha said Karbis now make up only about 35 per cent of the district’s total population.
It also noted that in the 26-member Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council, only around 10 elected representatives belong to the Karbi community. “These numbers, if accurate, indicate a serious imbalance in a district created to safeguard the rights and identity of indigenous hill tribes,” the association said.
The organisation added that the loss of control over land, agriculture, and local business has weakened many Karbis in their own homeland. It said similar demographic trends could emerge in other parts of Assam, especially in upper Assam districts, following the next census in 2027.
The association warned that unchecked population changes could threaten social balance and the traditional rights of indigenous communities across the state.
Recalling its own history, the Ahom Sabha said it has long supported constitutional measures to protect indigenous rights. It referred to events in 1967, when it backed the creation of autonomous hill district councils.
The association on August 7, 1967, submitted a detailed 22-page memorandum to the then Union Home Minister, supporting the federal structure and democratic safeguards in the Constitution.
The press release said the memorandum reaffirmed the association’s support for the Central Government’s federal plan for Assam to ensure peace, security, and harmony between hill and plains communities.
The Ahom Sabha said its current support for the Karbi community is based on the same principles.
The association stated that the demands raised by Karbi organisations are in line with the Sixth Schedule, which is designed to protect the land, culture, and political rights of tribal communities in hill areas.
It said these constitutional protections must be fully enforced, not left on paper. While not calling for confrontation, the Ahom Sabha urged fair policy decisions and strict enforcement of existing laws to prevent illegal settlements and land encroachment.
It added that protecting indigenous rights is crucial not only for Karbi Anglong but also for long-term peace and stability in Assam.