In a landmark move aimed at strengthening community inclusion and preserving Assam’s cultural heritage, the Assam Cabinet, chaired by Chief Minister Dr. Himanta Biswa Sarma, approved key policy decisions during its recent meeting.
In a significant development, the Cabinet cleared the report recommending Scheduled Tribe (ST) status for six major communities in the state: Tai Ahom, Chutia, Moran, Motok, Koch-Rajbongshi, and the Tea Tribes (Adivasis). The report, prepared by a Group of Ministers (GoM) led by Education Minister Dr. Ranoj Pegu, with Ministers Pijush Hazarika and Keshab Mahanta as members, will now be placed before the Assam Legislative Assembly and subsequently forwarded to the Ministry of Home Affairs for further action.
The move addresses a long-standing demand by these communities, which has been a major socio-political issue in Assam. Analysts say the approval marks a crucial step toward social equity and recognition for historically marginalized groups in the state.
The Cabinet also sanctioned the transfer and modification of three bighas of land from the Government Muga Farm at Reshom Nagar, Khanapara, to the Cultural Affairs Department. This land will host a state-of-the-art textile heritage museum, to be developed with the support of JSW I&P Holdings Pvt. Ltd. The museum will prominently feature the historic Vrindavani Vastra, a rare textile from the Vaishnavite renaissance of Srimanta Sankardeva, on loan from the British Museum, London. Officials said the museum is expected to become a landmark destination celebrating Assam’s rich weaving traditions, including its famed muga silk heritage.
Additionally, the Cabinet approved the Assam Survey and Settlement Training Centre Teachers’ Service Rules, 2025, which will regulate recruitment, service conditions, and career progression for faculty at the ASSTC in Dakhingaon, Guwahati. The new framework is intended to improve professional standards, enhance training quality, and strengthen capacity-building in land administration across the state.