Obtaining Caste Certificates eased under Mission Bhoomiputra

Gorkhas OBCs, ST, SC are Indigenous so Caste Certificates to be issued without questioning citizenship. -Assam CM

Guwahati July 20 : OBCs, STs, SCs including Gorkhas should not be questioned about nationality while issuing Caste Certificates since these communities are Indigenous to Assam. This was stated by Himanta Biswa Sarma, Chief Minister of Assam at a goverment function for inauguration of 25 MW Solar power plant at Lalpul in Udalguri BTR on Tuesday. CM Sarma was explaining the gathering about Mission Bhoomiputra which will enable OBC, ST and SC students to get caste certificates at their respective schools. CM also responded to the story carried by us where Gorkha Autonomous Council Demand Committe (GACDC) chairperson Harka Bahadur Chetry had demanded Indigenous status for Gorkha community. Chetry citing anthropological studies had claimed  from a HSLC / HSSLC successful students felicitation program from Merapani in Golaghat that Gorkhas are Himalayan aboriginal community so Government of Assam should recognise Gorkhas as Indigenous community. 

'I have been recieving complaints that the DCs seek NRC documents and question Gorkhas nationality while issuing OBC certificate. This should immediately stop. Gorkhas are Indian, there shouldn't be any doubt and district administration shouldn't harras, CM Himanta Biswa Sarma said while taking about ease of process of issuing caste certificates under Mission Bhoomiputra which will start from Aug 1.

'STs, SCs and OBCs are indigenous to Assam so they should be issued caste certificate without any questions on nationality. From 1st Aug 2022 District Administration should issue Caste Certificates to the students of classes viii to xii at their respective schools. From next year Government of Assam will give Caste Certificates to the students as they reach Class viii as a gift from the government.' CM added.

Office bearer of Assam Tribal Sangha on anonymity told this correspondent that Mission Bhoomiputra might give rise to lots of fake ST certificate holder  and it will be similar for SC, OBC and MOBC. Government of Assam should develop a mechanism to check issue of orginal Caste Certificate to bonafide candidate only. He also suggested to seek caste certificates of both parents even if the candidate or the students apply for caste certificates online and it should be properly verified. Assam Tribal Sangha is skeptic about the cabinet decision's implementation without flaws. All Assam OBC and MOBC Association have expressed satisfaction over the matter however said that the respective community's approved nodal organisation recommendation to be enclosed with either of the parents caste certificates. Meanwhile GACDC's Chetry appealed government to issue notification on the matter and instruct all district administration to comply from Aug 1. 

'Similar verbal assurances from the Chief Minister on on earlier on earlier occasions too were turned down at goverment offices. Even after verbal communication from the CM while applying Caste Certificates, Permanent Resident Certificate for education purpose, the district and subdivisional administration seeks 1951 NRC, names of ancestors enrolled prior 1971 or names in present NRC', Harka Bahadur Chetry lamented and requested CM to issue gazzette notification that Gorkhas are Indigenous community of Assam.  SC organisation of Assam were not available for comments at the time of filing this report

Mission Bhoomiputra Assam 2022 is a mission mode scheme taken by Assam Government to issue caste certificate to all the individuals and students of Assam belong to SC, ST, OBC and MOBC caste in simplified manner. The features or highlights of Mission Bhumiputra Assam 2022 are single application form for all castes, Digital Caste Certificate, Storage in Digi Locker, Transparency of Caste Certificate, Special drive to issue caste certificate to students of class viii to xii this year by DC. To ensure uniformity and making the procedure of applying for caste certificate in Assam easy, Mission Bhoomiputra Assam will have single application form and the application form will be same irrespective of caste.