Assam
Cabinet has approved three percent reservation for tea plantation tribes and
tribal communities in Class I and II government jobs
¨
The Assam Cabinet has approved three percent reservation for tea
plantation tribes and tribal communities in Class I and II government jobs.
¨
Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma stated that this is a significant
expansion of affirmative action for one of the most marginalized sections of
the state.
¨
The decision was taken at a cabinet meeting held in the Assam
Legislative Assembly complex.
¨
With this move, tea plantation tribes and tribal communities will now
benefit from reservation in higher-level government services, in addition to
the existing quota in Class III and IV posts.
¨
The Chief Minister told reporters that this decision reflects the
government's intention to ensure greater representation of tea plantation
tribes and tribal youth in policy-making and administrative roles.
Expansion
of Reservation
¨
Despite this community's significant contribution to Assam's economy,
particularly through the tea industry, the community has historically been
underrepresented in senior government positions.
¨
The Cabinet noted that expanding reservation for Class I and II posts
will open up new opportunities for educated youth from tea plantation tribes
and tribal backgrounds, encourage higher education, and help address long-standing
social and economic inequalities.
Apart
from the reservation decision
¨
In addition to the reservation decision, the Cabinet also approved the
Vote-on-Account Budget statement to be placed before the Assam Legislative
Assembly for the initial months of the 2026-27 financial year.
¨ In another important welfare initiative, the
Cabinet approved the release of seed capital for entrepreneurship to an
additional 1,07,532 eligible women self-help group members under the Chief
Minister's Women Entrepreneurship Campaign (MMUA) scheme.
¨
Infrastructure and development decisions included approval for the
construction of the second Sainik School at Langwoku in Karbi Anglong after the
Ministry of Defence approved the project's DPR, and the disposal of over 31
bighas of land in Dhemaji district in favor of the Assam Cricket Association
for sports infrastructure development.
