AATS is not the competent authority to issue Tribal certificate: GGKSA

Our Correspondent Diphu, July 20 (EMN): The Greater Guwahati Karbi Students’ Association (GGKSA) has submitted a memorandum to the Director of Medical Education, Assam on 19 July 2017, to allow Scheduled Tribe (Hills) candidates from the twin hills district of Assam admission into MBBS/BDS course and accept the ST (H) certificate issued by the competent authority of the hill districts. In a memorandum the GGKSA stated that All Assam Tribal Sangha (AATS) was not a competent authority to issue Schedule Tribe (Hills) certificate and therefore, the signature of the Deputy Commissioner/Sub-Divisional Officer of Karbi Anglong and Dima Hasao shall remain the competent authority. The leaders of GGKSA in a press release stated that the Sangha as the main issuing authority and that too for issuing ST (H) is completely unconstitutional and therefore, should immediately stopped once for all. The memorandum also reminded that the authority the only authorities that can issue Scheduled Tribe (Hills) certificate are the Deputy Commissioner and Sub-Divisional Officer (Civil) of the Twins Hills district of Assam i.e. Karbi Anglong and North Cachar Hills (now Dima Hasao) and besides after due verification with requisite certificates from the Assistant Revenue Officers (AROs) based on the reports of Laat Mandals (LMs) and Sarkari Gaonburas (SGBs). The leaders of GGKSA also pointed that many non-ST (H) candidates have illegally used the ST (H) certificates, issued by the All Assam Tribal Sangha or the Deputy Commissioner of the concerned districts (plain districts), to get admitted to different academic institutions or even get employed in government services. The citizens living in these two districts can only acquire the ST (H) certificates and so the requisite certificates clearly have to be issued by the concerned authority of these two districts, GGKSA added. The leaders of GGKSA appealed the medical authority to take up the matter immediately by removing the All Assam Tribal Sangha and replace it with DC or SDO or another competent authority of Karbi Anglong and Dima Hasao district at the Schedule-I / Annexure – V of the application form. The memorandum submission of GGKSA was led by its president Jonarson Tokbi, vice president Dhoromsing Ronghang, Angtong Engti Kathar, Linson Ronghang and Bicky Tisso.