Non-Dimasas of Dima Hasao demand bifurcation of district

Post Bureau, Guwahati (Aug 10): Feeling insecure in their own land, the non-Dimasa tribes of Dima Hasao district are demanding safety from the state government. On Friday, the Indigenous People’s Forum (IPF), along with the NC Hills Indigenous Students’ Forum (NCHISF), reiterated its demand for political separation of the non-Dimasas of the district from the Dimasas. It was on March 30, 2010 when the name of the NC Hill was changed to Dima Hasao.

The IPF said the Dimasas comprised barely 35 per cent of the total population in the district (as per electoral rolls published by the office of the deputy commissioner, NC Hills in 2008). “We want a separate autonomous district and council for the non-Dimasa tribes living in the district under the constitutional framework or else the minor tribes of the district will vanish one day,” said NCHISF president L Hlima Keivom. He demanded bifurcation of the district into Dima Hasao and North Cachar Hill districts.

The organisation is a conglomerate of minor tribes of the district like the Bietes, Hrangkhawls, Hmars, Kukis, Karbis, Vaipheis, Zeme Nagas, Jaintias, Khelmas and other non-Dimasa ethnic groups. “Though non-Dimasas comprise 65 per cent of the total population, they are without rights,” alleged NCHISF secretary Luna Singson.

Speaking on the problems faced by non-Dimasas in the district, Keivom said that apart from imposing taxes by the government, separate taxes had been imposed by Dima Halam Daogah (DHD).

Moreover, they get low priority in welfare schemes of the education, health and other departments, he alleged. “We have to pay taxes for using river water, timber from forest, stone boulders and others as per the demand of the DHD, and this is Ridiculous,” Keivom said. “We want the areas inhabited by the non-Dimasa tribes to be to be bifurcated from Dima Hasao,” demanded Keivom.

The NCHISF secretary said that though they were protesting against the decision of the state government to change the nomenclature of the district since 2010, Dispur allegedly was turning a deaf ear to their cry.

Post Bureau, Guwahati (Aug 10): Feeling insecure in their own land, the non-Dimasa tribes of Dima Hasao district are demanding safety from the state government. On Friday, the Indigenous People’s Forum (IPF), along with the NC Hills Indigenous Students’ Forum (NCHISF), reiterated its demand for political separation of the non-Dimasas of the district from the Dimasas. It was on March 30, 2010 when the name of the NC Hill was changed to Dima Hasao.

The IPF said the Dimasas comprised barely 35 per cent of the total population in the district (as per electoral rolls published by the office of the deputy commissioner, NC Hills in 2008). “We want a separate autonomous district and council for the non-Dimasa tribes living in the district under the constitutional framework or else the minor tribes of the district will vanish one day,” said NCHISF president L Hlima Keivom. He demanded bifurcation of the district into Dima Hasao and North Cachar Hill districts.

The organisation is a conglomerate of minor tribes of the district like the Bietes, Hrangkhawls, Hmars, Kukis, Karbis, Vaipheis, Zeme Nagas, Jaintias, Khelmas and other non-Dimasa ethnic groups. “Though non-Dimasas comprise 65 per cent of the total population, they are without rights,” alleged NCHISF secretary Luna Singson.

Speaking on the problems faced by non-Dimasas in the district, Keivom said that apart from imposing taxes by the government, separate taxes had been imposed by Dima Halam Daogah (DHD).

Moreover, they get low priority in welfare schemes of the education, health and other departments, he alleged. “We have to pay taxes for using river water, timber from forest, stone boulders and others as per the demand of the DHD, and this is Ridiculous,” Keivom said. “We want the areas inhabited by the non-Dimasa tribes to be to be bifurcated from Dima Hasao,” demanded Keivom.

The NCHISF secretary said that though they were protesting against the decision of the state government to change the nomenclature of the district since 2010, Dispur allegedly was turning a deaf ear to their cry.