Hundreds of people from the Kalita community gathered in Nalbari on Sunday to take part in a large protest demanding land rights, better access to education, and recognition as a Scheduled Tribe under the Indian Constitution. The protest, which was peaceful but strong in message, was organized by the Kalita Janagosthi Sanmilan.The rally started from the Government Higher Secondary School playground and moved through the main streets of Nalbari town. Many men, women, and students carried banners and placards with messages such as “Land for Kalitas, Justice for Kalitas” and “Education is Our Right.” The slogans echoed through the town as people voiced their long-standing frustrations over what they described as decades of neglect by the authorities. Leaders of the Kalita Janagosthi Sanmilan said that the protest was not meant to serve any political purpose but was an appeal for justice and equality. They stressed that the Kalita community has been struggling for years to be recognized as a Scheduled Tribe so that its members can benefit from constitutional safeguards meant for indigenous and underprivileged groups.
One of the speakers at the rally said, “Our demand is simple — we want the government to hear our voice and give us our rights. We have waited for years, but nothing has moved forward.” The leaders also warned that if the government does not take action soon, the movement will spread to other parts of Assam. The protest comes a day after the Sanmilan submitted a memorandum to Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on October 25. The document once again asked the state government to take immediate steps to recognize the Kalita community as a Scheduled Tribe. The memorandum mentioned that the demand is not new and that the community has been raising this issue for decades. It also pointed out that earlier representations were made to the President of India in 1988, and later to the Union Ministry of Tribal Affairs and the Union Ministry of Home Affairs in 2015. In 2016, community leaders had also met senior national leaders, including Rajnath Singh, to discuss the matter. However, despite all these efforts, no significant progress has been made till now.
According to the Sanmilan, the state government has still not formed the expert committee that is required to examine their case and recommend action. The group has urged the Chief Minister to create this committee at the earliest, study all the supporting documents, and pass a resolution in the Assam Legislative Assembly to forward the proposal to the Central Government.Speakers at the event said that the Kalita community’s demand is based on fairness and survival. They said that without recognition and proper land rights, many families face difficulties in education, employment, and development. Community leaders also thanked the youth and students who joined the march, saying that their participation shows growing awareness and unity within the Kalita community. They expressed hope that the government will take their concerns seriously this time and start the necessary steps to bring justice.
