Karbis protest against ST status for hill Bodos

Karbis protest against ST status for hill Bodos

• The Bodos, an ethnic group in Assam, had been demanding a separate State since 1972, and are recognized as a Scheduled Tribe (Plain).
• After the conclusion of the latest Bodo pact, the Karbi Longri and North Cachar Hills Liberation Front (KLNLF), a militant group that signed a ceasefire pact with the Centre in 2009, has said a “political settlement” should be reached soon. “The identity of Karbis will come under threat if Bodos who live in the hill areas [along with Karbis] are also given a Scheduled Hill Tribe status,” KLNLF general secretary Thong Terong Kabi said. 
• The group’s primary demand was a separate State. In Assam, there are 14 recognized Plains Tribe communities, 15 Hill Tribe communities, and 16 Scheduled Caste communities.
• After the peace accord with all Bodo groups, the Centre is at a very advanced stage of sealing a peace deal with other key militant groups, including the pro talks faction of the United Liberation Front of Asom and the Karbi insurgent group. 
• The Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council has 26 seats, and the elections to the councils are due in 2022. “It is one of the oldest councils in existence since 1951... Nagaland and Mizoram that were autonomous councils initially became States years ago; only Karbi Anglong and Dima Hasao remain. Karbi want an ST status for the entire region so that non­tribals will not be able to contest in the elections
• The non­tribals comprise 46% of the 9.6 lakh population of the council. The Bodos could not have a separate reservation in hills and plains

About Karbis

• The Karbis is the principal indigenous community in the Karbi Anglong district and West Karbi Anglong district of the Indian state of Assam, the district is administered as per the provisions of the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution of India, having an autonomous district of their own since 17 November 1951. Besides Karbi Anglong district, the Karbi-inhabited areas include Dima Hasao, Kamrup Metropolitan, Hojai, Morigaon, Nagaon, Golaghat, Karimganj, Lakhimpur, Sonitpur and Biswanath Chariali districts of Assam; Balijan circle of Papumpare district in Arunachal Pradesh; Jaintia Hills, Ri Bhoi, East Khasi Hills and West Khasi Hills districts in Meghalaya; Dimapur District in Nagaland, Mizoram, and Sylhet district of Bangladesh with disproportionate distribution. However, Karbis in the other Indian States, like Meghalaya, Mizoram, and Nagaland, are unable to identify themselves as Schedule Tribe, as the Constitution of India only recognizes 'Mikir'. With a population of around 4 lakhs 21 thousand (421,156) as per the 2011 Census in Karbi Anglong district alone, also found scattered in several other parts of Assam itself & Northeast India, the Karbis constitute a large community.
• The origin of the word Karbi is unknown. Historically and by ancestry, they called themselves Arleng (literally "man" in Karbi language) and are called Karbi by others. The term Mikir is now considered derogatory. There is no definitive meaning of the word Mikir in the Karbi language. The closest meaning of Mikir could be said to be derived from "Mekar" (English: Fire).

Source: The Hindu