Buddhists for tribal status in Assam

JORHAT, January 20: The Mogh Barua Buddhists of Assam have demanded tribal status for the community on the lines of the Mogh tribals in West Bengal. The eighth biennial conference of the Federation of Mogh Barua Buddhist Welfare Association of Assam held recently, said the community should be re-enlisted as "Mogh" Barua tribe in the Tribe Schedule list of Assam as in Tripura and West Bengal as per the Schedule Tribe Order (1950) Part I rules and other provisions under the Constitution. In a memorandum to chief minister Prafulla Kumar Mahanta, the federation also demanded land pattas for landless Buddhist villagers and supply of adequate potable water. The government should set up libraries at Buddhist temples in Assam and provide for reservation facilities, the memorandum stated. Other demands include setting up of Pali schools in the state and representation in the Assam Minority Board. The Mogh Barua Buddhist also demanded representation by an MLA of their community along with preservation of historical monuments of the community. The memorandum also assured all support to the government in containing terrorism.