New Delhi: A national seminar addressing Land Rights, Self-Determination, and Constitutional Status for Rabha Hasong Autonomous Council (RHAC) was held on 28th October 2024 at the Constitution Club of India, New Delhi. The seminar, jointly organized by the All Rabha Students’ Union (ARSU), All Rabha Women Council (ARWC), and Sixth Schedule Demand Committee (SSDC), in collaboration with RHAC, focused on the urgent need for constitutional protection for the Rabha Hasong region in Assam.
Inaugurated by Member of Parliament Dilip Saikia and chaired by RHAC Chief Executive Member Tankeswar Rabha, the seminar underscored the risks facing the indigenous Rabha community, particularly from illegal migration and land encroachment. Mr. Saikia pledged to raise these issues in Parliament, stressing the need for timely legislative action to protect RHAC’s indigenous rights.
ARSU General Secretary Dr. Subhash Rabha announced that the seminar was a precursor to a protest scheduled at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi on 29th October, aimed at rallying support for the Sixth Schedule status for RHAC.
Several key figures contributed insights to the discussion, including Dr. Samujjal Kumar Bhattacharya, Chief Adviser of the All Assam Students’ Union (AASU); Aditya Khakhlary, Chief Convenor of the Coordination Committee of Tribal Organizations of Assam (CCTOA); Nirupam Chakma, member of the National Commission for Scheduled Tribes (NCST); human rights activist Suhas Chakma; and Dr. Raktim Pator, Associate Professor at Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), Delhi.
The seminar highlighted the growing threats to indigenous and tribal communities in Assam, where illegal migration and land encroachment are impacting demography and cultural heritage. Dr. Bhattacharya emphasized that RHAC’s challenges reflect broader issues for Assam, pledging AASU’s full support in addressing these concerns and urging the central government to prioritize the issue of illegal migration.
Aditya Khakhlary underscored the RHAC autonomy movement’s significance for tribal rights, calling for collective action from all indigenous communities to preserve RHAC’s autonomy and land rights. Nirupam Chakma, supporting the call for constitutional inclusion under the Sixth Schedule, highlighted the legal framework’s potential to secure autonomy for RHAC.
Human rights activist Suhas Chakma addressed the impact of urban expansion on tribal lands, stating that indigenous communities’ survival is deeply tied to their land rights. He advocated for urgent protections against the pressures from external actors, emphasizing the Sixth Schedule’s role in safeguarding tribal land.
Prof. Raktim Pator discussed the historical context supporting the inclusion of RHAC under the Sixth Schedule, underlining the constitutional amendment’s importance in preserving the cultural identity of the Rabha and other indigenous communities.
The seminar concluded with a resolution urging the Indian government to amend the Constitution, incorporating RHAC into the Sixth Schedule by 2026 to protect its self-determination and land rights.
Tankeswar Rabha, RHAC’s Chief Executive Member, called upon Assam’s Chief Minister to prioritize constitutional status for RHAC, appealing to the NDA-led central government to uphold the rights and protections for the Rabha and other indigenous peoples in RHAC.
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