Jharkhand CM Urges Assam to Grant ST Status to Tea Tribes

Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren has urged Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma to grant Scheduled Tribe (ST) status to Assam’s tea tribes. In a letter, Soren emphasized that despite significant contributions to the economy, around seven million tea tribe members, currently classified as OBC, remain marginalized. He highlighted that these groups, including Santhali, Kuruk, Munda, and Oraon, trace their roots to Jharkhand and are recognized as ST in states like Jharkhand, West Bengal, and Odisha. The demand has gained momentum, with protests held in Delhi and memorandums submitted to the Centre. However, the 2019 bill addressing their status is yet to be passed.