Haflong, Jul 22 : A 15-member delegation of the Indigenous Peoples Forum met Assam chief secretary N.K. Das today to press for the demand to bifurcate Dima Hasao (formerly NC Hills) district.
The team, headed by the forum’s president A. Langthang, submitted a three-point memorandum to Das and demanded immediate and fruitful solutions to their problems.
The demands include bifurcation of Dima Hasao district into autonomous council districts and Sixth Schedule status to both, renaming of the separate district as North Cachar Hills, steps to cancel the proposed wildlife sanctuary covering Boraille hill as it is the habitation of the indigenous people, and finally formation of a high-powered committee to look into the demands.
“The foothills of Boraille is home to thousands of indigenous people who may be forced to leave if the area was declared a wild life sanctuary. If they are displaced where would they go?” Langthang asked over telephone after the meeting.
The Forum, along with other influential non-Dimasa groups, launched an agitation soon after Dispur announced the new name of North Cachar Hills district. The organisations later announced that their agitation would continue until and unless the bifurcation issue was settled.
“Today, the chief secretary agreed to accept our third point and assured us that a proposal for the formation of a high-powered committee would be considered and the Assam governor would be requested to give his approval. We expect some fruitful steps as today’s positive discussion brings a ray of hope to all of us,” Langthang said.
Dima Hasao district is home to 18 different communities.
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