Boko, Sept 29: The BJP’s statewide membership drive in Assam has faced a lukewarm response, but leaders of the Rabha Hasong Autonomous Council (RHAC) have seized the opportunity to push forward their long-standing demand for Sixth Schedule status for the Council. This became evident through a statement made by Frylin R. Marak, an Executive Member (EM) of the RHAC. Marak urged the residents of the Rabha Hasong region to advocate for Sixth Schedule status if the BJP reaches out to them for membership.
Currently, the RHAC is not governed under this Schedule but has been seeking this status to gain greater self-governance and protection of the Rabha community’s rights.
The Council is currently led by the Rabha Hasong Joutha Mancha, an independent platform representing the Rabha community, though it reportedly enjoys tacit support from the BJP.
Marak criticized political parties for using the promise of Sixth Schedule status to win elections in the RHAC area but failing to deliver on these promises afterwards. He expressed frustration that despite repeated assurances made during general and assembly elections, the people of the Rabha Hasong region were continually deprived of Sixth Schedule status once political parties came to power.
However, Marak also expressed optimism about recent developments, stating that on February 9, the Assam government had sent a proposal to the Union government requesting the inclusion of RHAC under the Sixth Schedule of the Indian Constitution.
“If the proposal is accepted, it would pave the way for the Union government to send additional funds to the Council, thereby facilitating the comprehensive development of all ethnic communities living in the Rabha Hasong area,” Marak said.
Marak’s call reflects an attempt to leverage the BJP’s membership outreach as a means to push for greater political autonomy and recognition under the Sixth Schedule, which has been a significant demand from the Rabha community for a long time.
On Saturday, Marak distributed various grants to 1,200 beneficiaries across 48 villages under the Luki RHA Council Constituency. The support aimed at improving the quality of life for underprivileged residents in the region included bicycles for poor students, roofing sheets for impoverished families, football and volleyball equipment, including nets, for local clubs, solar-powered torch lights, , hand pumps for families in need of a reliable water source, blankets to protect against cold weather and yarns for women, enabling them to weave clothes and support their livelihoods.
