In a massive display of solidarity, hundreds of members of the Adivasi tea community staged a major protest in Sonari town, Charaideo district, on Thursday. Organised by the All Adivasi Students’ Association of Assam (AASAA), the demonstration brought the town to a standstill as participants voiced their long-pending demands for Scheduled Tribe (ST) status, land rights, and a significant wage increase.
The march, led by AASAA leaders including President Rijen Horo and General Secretary Deben Urang, highlighted three core issues deemed essential for the community’s socio-economic upliftment. The Adivasis, descendants of workers brought from central India to work in Assam’s tea gardens during the British era, have been a cornerstone of the state’s economy for over a century.
The primary demand is for Scheduled Tribe status, which leaders argue is crucial for securing political representation, access to government jobs, and educational opportunities. “For decades, we have been the backbone of Assam’s tea industry, yet we live on the fringe. The ST status is our right to identity and a life of dignity,” stated AASAA President Rijen Horo.
Alongside the constitutional recognition, protesters demanded land pattas (deeds) for thousands of landless families, providing them with security and ownership. The third key issue is a hike in the minimum daily wage, from the current 250 rupees to 551 rupees, to cope with the escalating cost of living.
“The daily wage of Rs 250 is a pittance. It is impossible to feed families and educate our children. We have lived on this land for generations but have no rights over it. We till the tea gardens, but we do not own the land beneath our feet,” AASAA General Secretary Deben Urang said.
The AASAA has issued a stern warning, threatening larger and more widespread protests across Assam if their demands are not addressed before the 2026 state assembly elections.
