Assam Cabinet approves ‘indigenous’ status for five Muslim communities

Tags: State News

The Assam government has decided to grant 'swadeshi' status to five Assamese-speaking Muslim communities in the state. Now the identity of these communities will be different from the Bengali speaking Muslims.

• These Assamese Muslim communities includes Goria, Moria, Deshi, Jolah and Syed.

• This step has been taken in line with the recommendation of sub-groups/committees constituted by the State Government.

• This group has often expressed the need for a separate identity.

• The decision has been taken following the recommendations of a panel constituted by the Assam government last year to discuss socio-economic issues related to the Assamese Muslim community of the state.

• The panel was constituted in July last year after Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma's meeting with Assamese Muslims from different regions.

• Why was this decision taken?

• This step has been taken to identify the 'illegal infiltrators' in Assam.

• This will help in identifying the origin of Assam i.e. Indian Muslims.

• Bangladeshi infiltrators can be driven out of the country after Indian Muslims are identified.

• Infiltration has been a major issue in Assam and other states of the Northeast.

• The most affected by these infiltrators has been in Assam.

• The move will ensure their development in health, cultural identity, education, financial inclusion, skill development and women empowerment.

• Muslims population in Assam

• Muslims constitute 34% of Assam's 3.12 crore population, of whom 4% are indigenous Assamese Muslims and the rest are mostly Bengali-speaking Muslims.