Adivasi Students Demand Caste Certificates by Specific Identity.

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 Adivasi Students Demand Caste Certificates by Specific Identity, Not Just “Tea Tribe” Tag

Dibrugarh: On Tuesday, hundreds of members of the All Adivasi Students’ Association of Assam (AASAA) protested at Makum in Tinsukia district, demanding caste certificates based on specific Adivasi castes rather than the current broad labels used by the Assam government.

At present, the government issues OBC certificates under four tea community categories:

“We are not just tea labourers. We belong to distinct castes with our own culture and history,” said Albert Oreya, AASAA’s Tinsukia district president.

The Adivasi tea workers’ ancestors came from the Chotanagpur plateau in the 1800s, brought by the British to Assam’s tea estates. While in states like Jharkhand, Odisha, and Chhattisgarh they get caste certificates for their exact caste, in Assam they are grouped together under tea-related labels.

AASAA warned the BJP government to act before the upcoming state elections or face a community-wide boycott. A memorandum was submitted to the local administration, and the organisation plans to intensify protests if their demand is ignored.

Tea Garden Labourers

Tea Garden Tribes

Ex-Tea Garden Labourers

Ex-Tea Garden Tribes



Protesters say this erases the unique identity of the 108 castes and sub-castes in the community — such as Santhal, Oraon, Munda, Kharia, Bhumij, Teli, Tanti, Kurmi, Karmakar, Mahato, Nagbansi, Kanika, Rajgarh, and others.


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