Dibrugarh: Five leading Mottock organizations on Friday held a three-hour sit-in protest at Chowkidinghee in upper Assam’s Dibrugarh, demanding the immediate granting of Scheduled Tribe (ST) status to the community.
The protest was organized by the All Assam Mottock Sanmilan, All Assam Mottock Yuba Chatra Sanmilan, All Assam Mottock Mahila Parishad, All Assam Mottock Yuba Chatra Parishad, and All Assam Mottock Students’ Union.
Demonstrators carried placards and banners, raising slogans against the central government’s delay in recognizing the Mottock community as a Scheduled Tribe.
The Mottock community, along with six other ethnic groups in Assam – the Tai Ahoms, Morans, Koch Rajbongshis, Sooteas, and Tea Tribes – have been pressing for ST status for years.
Despite promises from the BJP government, the demand remains unfulfilled, leading to growing frustration among these communities, currently classified as Other Backward Classes (OBC).
Sanjoy Hazarika, a leader of the Mottock organizations, announced a series of protests, culminating in a 100-hour economic blockade on October 4, 2024. He warned of further actions if the government continues to ignore their demands.