Guwahati: The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has assured the appointment of an interlocutor to address the long-standing demand of three tribal communities in Assam for constitutional recognition of their autonomous councils, Union Home Minister Amit Shah said on Friday.
The announcement followed Shah’s meeting with delegations from the Rabha, Mising, and Tiwa communities in New Delhi, attended by Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and state Cabinet minister Ranoj Pegu.
The move is being seen as a key step toward meeting the constitutional aspirations of these indigenous groups.
Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma welcomed the decision and thanked the Union Home Minister, describing the assurance as “deeply reassuring and heart-warming.” In a social media post, Sarma said Shah’s commitment to appoint an interlocutor and start an institutional dialogue reflected the Centre’s approach of inclusive governance and engagement with indigenous communities.
“I offer my sincere gratitude to Union Home Minister Amit Shah for meeting the delegations of the Rabha, Mising, and Tiwa communities, who have long been seeking constitutional status for their respective autonomous councils,” Sarma wrote.
He added that the proposed dialogue would help protect the constitutional rights and aspirations of Assam’s indigenous people.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah, in a separate post, said he had heard the concerns of the community representatives and assured them that their demands would be addressed. “The Ministry of Home Affairs will soon appoint a senior official to work toward an amicable and lasting solution,” Shah said.
The Rabha Hasong, Mising, and Tiwa Autonomous Councils have long been seeking constitutional recognition.
At present, they operate as statutory bodies set up by the Assam government to support the social, economic, educational, cultural, and ethnic development of Scheduled Tribe communities across core and surrounding areas in multiple districts.