Debate Ignites Over Assam's Teacher Recruitment Reservations for Tea Garden Workers

Guwahati- Assam's Education Minister, Ranoj Pegu, has recently announced a groundbreaking decision to reserve three percent of teacher recruitment positions for the Tea Tribe and Adivasi communities in the state. Pegu's declaration, made through a social media post on X (formerly Twitter), specified that this reservation would be incorporated within the existing 27% quota allocated for OBC/MOBC communities.

However, this move has stirred a renewed debate on the challenges faced by Adivasi communities working in and around tea gardens, with questions arising about the effectiveness of such announcements and the broader issues related to the socio-economic status of these communities.

As the discourse unfolds, concerns about the practical implementation and the actual impact of such policies on the ground are gaining prominence, prompting a closer examination of the government's commitment to addressing the longstanding issues faced by these marginalized groups.

The Mooknayak spoke to Amar Surin who is the General Secretary of All Adivasi Student Association of Assam. While maintaining that any form of help is help, the activist added in a disappointed tone, “Our main point is that we are demanding scheduling of the already present tribal communities working in and around the tea gardens. Our whole demand is to reclassify the Adivasis according to the already present structure in the country. This reservation has been given under the OBC quota so what is the point?”

He added, “we understand that granting ST status will mean an upheaval in the national level as well so the only thing we have been demanding is to reschedule the status of communities who already enjoy ST status in other states, such as Munda, Gond tribes. We are constantly being told that we were brought in by the Britishers. Fair enough. But they did not bring us from outside of the nation. We were always a part of India and now are governed by the constitution of India. This constitution states that the president, in discussion with the particular state government, can confer ST status.”

Ranoj Pegu took to X to post, “Pursuant to Govt OM, there will be 3% reservation for Tea Tribes and Adivasi Communities within the existing 27% quota for OBC/MOBC communities in the current Teacher recruitment under @SchoolEdnAssam @himantabiswa @pallablochandas @sanjoykishan1”

Talking about the nature of information dissemination, Surin responded, “The government does not run through tweets. The government runs through administration. Reforms brought in by the administration, if proper follow-ups have been taken and if implementation has happened - these are all measures that point towards the success of a promise. The ministry has provided information through a tweet, but unless that gets implemented on the ground, the tweet will not hold much impact.”

Bondita, a human rights activist, revealed the ground-level obstacles present in the tea gardens. “3% reservation will not serve the purpose. 100% reservation should be implemented in the schools and areas in and around tea gardens. It is not just about the appointment of teachers but the selection criteria as well. Many Adivasi community members are not even able to clear the competitive exams meant for teachers’ appointments due to the inaccessibility of resources.”

She also raised concerns about the lack of implementation of such social media posts. The activist remarked, “The same education ministry that has declared the reservation has also said that the already existing teachers will get their salaries through the management and not from the government. Teachers who have been appointed through the TET examination [the minimum qualification required in India for a person to be eligible for an appointment as a teacher] do not want to work in these areas, and the already existing teachers do not get paid on time, nor do they get any help from the administration. Whatever decision is informed through tweets, they always visibly lack implementation.”

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