Assam minister for welfare of plains tribes and backward classes, Chandan Brahma, on Monday told the Assembly that the group of ministers on Scheduled Tribe (ST) status for six communities in the state would hold another round of meeting with all stakeholders before sending a report to the Centre.

The group of ministers, headed by cabinet minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, was formed to recommend the Centre how to accord ST status to Chutias, Motoks, Morans, Koch-Rajbongshis, Tai-Ahoms and tea tribes.

It was supposed to submit its report by February 15 last year, but the issue got buried because of the Lok Sabha elections.

On Monday, Brahma told the Assembly that the process of discussing with all stakeholders was yet to be over.

“There is a scope for a final round of discussion. We will hold another round of discussion before March 20 with all stakeholders and finalise the report,” he said.

The issue of the six communities was raised by AGP legislator Ramendra Narayan Kalita.

He reminded the government that the Centre would not do anything unless it got the report from the group of ministers.

Kalita wanted to know whether the six communities would be accorded ST status before the 2021 Assembly poll.

Brahma cited some unresolved issues regarding the demand for ST status such as what will be the percentage of OBC population after giving ST status to the six communities, what will happen to communities like Nath Jogi and Gorkha and sub-groups among the Adivasi tea tribes who have not been given a green signal by the Registrar General of India for ST status.

He said of the 96 sub-groups of Adivasis, only 36 had got a green signal for ST status. Brahma said the government was also researching whether the Kalita community fulfils the conditions to be accorded ST status considering the clamour on this from the community.

The organisations of the six communities, however, have been expressing their dissatisfaction over the Centre’s alleged delay in giving ST status to them.

Organisations like the All Moran Students’ Union and the All Koch Rajbongshi Students’ Union have resumed their agitation demanding ST status. The organisations were unhappy when chief minister Sarbananda Sonowal and his cabinet colleagues did not discuss the issue in a meeting with them last week.

All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF) Jania MLA Rafiqul Islam said the government has no intention of giving ST status to the six communities.