The Gorkha community in Assam on Tuesday demanded Scheduled Tribe (ST) status and an autonomous council, comprising areas inhabited by Gorkhas in the state.
A delegation from the Asom Gorkha Sammelan, led by its president Arun Upadhyay, met Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER) Minister Jitendra Singh in the national Capital and submitted a memorandum. They also requested him to set up a Gorkha cultural and heritage centre and simplify the process for the inclusion of community members in the National Register of Citizens.
There are 60 lakh Gorkhas in Assam. The demand comes at a time when the Centre is going to include six indigenous communities of the state in the ST category. They said <g data-gr-id="16">recruitment</g> of <g data-gr-id="17">Gorkhas</g> in defence forces had reduced, despite their immense contribution. They sought that the Gorkha Community Certificate issued by the Asom Gorkha Sammelan be accepted for the employment of Gorkhas in defence forces.
Singh said he would look into the issues within the purview of his ministry and take up other issues with the departments concerned.