Assam: In Dima Hasao IPF wants district for non-Dimasas

Silchar: The Indigenous People’s Forum (IPF) has urged the Assam government to take necessary steps to initiate the process of creating a separate district with a separate autonomous council for non-Dimasas in Dima Hasao district.

The IPF warned that if its demand, which it has been raising for the past several years, was not met by January, a democratic movement would begin.
IPF President L Kuki and General Secretary Hlima Keivom said that the IPF has been demanding a separate district with an autonomous council for non-Dimasas for the past 12 years, but the government has not heeded it. “In March 2010, despite strong opposition from a large section of the people, North Cachar Hills district was renamed as Dima Hasao district (to appease Dimasas). Since then, non-Dimasas has been a separate autonomous region. are raising the demand for a separate district with the council,” he said.
The IPF members said they have waited long enough since then and if the government does not take steps to meet their demands within this month, they have no choice but to launch a democratic movement. It won’t happen.

Speaking to Media, IPF General Secretary Hlima Keivom said the establishment of a separate district with a separate autonomous council would ensure the protection of the rights and interests of the non-Dimasas people in Dima Hasao District. We know that our demands cannot be fulfilled overnight. We want the government to start the process of meeting our demand by January.

He said that the state government had set up a task force headed by (Lt) P.P. Verma, IAS, Chief Secretary, Government of Assam, which submitted its report on November 16, 2011, in which a separate The feasibility of the stay was stated. It recommended the establishment of two separate, independent autonomous councils for the people of the Dimasa and non-Dimasas groups in the district and Dima Hasao, but no concrete steps have been taken towards its implementation since then.In February 2019, the budget session of the Assam government also announced the creation of a separate district, but then no action was taken on the matter. In addition, a meeting was held between the government and the IPF in September 2022 in which it was decided to form a delimitation commission headed by a retired High Court judge or a retired IAS officer in this regard. will go, but the government did not pay attention later, he lamented.

Further, he stressed that the Assam government should view the matter with utmost importance and take appropriate steps to fulfill their long-standing demand.
Reacting to the issue, Dimasa Students Union, Dima Hasao Unit General Secretary, Premath Sengyong told that the IPF has been calling for years to “get attention” and “get political gains”. Is. “This is a politically motivated move. We are strongly against the secession of the district,” Sengyong said.
He claimed that both Dimasa and non-Dimasas enjoy equal rights and opportunities in Dima Hasao district and there is no discrimination or prejudice against non-Dimasas people as claimed by the IPF.

Convenor of Dima Hasao Trinamool Congress Committee Aching Zeme said that in this democratic country everyone has the right to raise demands, but it should disturb the peace in the society in any way.