The Coordination Committee of Tribal Organisations, Assam (CCTOA) met with Tribal Affairs Minister Ranoj Pegu to discuss the proposal for granting Scheduled Tribe (ST) status to six communities, as per the Assam Cabinet’s November 30, 2025 decision. Minister Pegu outlined the Group of Ministers’ report and invited the CCTOA to review sections of the report before forming an expert committee to submit feedback within a month. The CCTOA, representing 26 tribal groups, expressed concerns regarding potential impacts on existing ST rights. A second round of discussions with the Group of Ministers is planned after a month, with intentions to engage various stakeholders and address implications for education and recruitment. Khakhlari emphasized the need to protect existing tribal rights throughout the process.
