Assam To Conduct Socio-Economic Assessment Of Indigenous Muslim Communities

The findings will guide the Assam government to take suitable measures aimed at the socio-political and educational upliftment of the state's indigenous minorities.

Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma at Janata Bhawan with the officials.

Source : ANI

The Assam government will conduct a socio-economic assessment of indigenous Muslim communities in the state, a statement from the Assam Chief Minister's Office (CMO) stated on Tuesday. The decision was taken at a meeting chaired by Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma at Janata Bhawan.

Sarma directed the officials to carry out a socio-economic assessment of Assam's indigenous Muslim communities (Goria, Moria, Deshi, Syed and Jolha), ANI quoted the Assam CMO as saying. 

The findings of the socio-economic assessment will guide the Assam government to take suitable measures aimed at the comprehensive socio-political and educational upliftment of the state's indigenous minorities, the CMO further said.

In a meeting held at Janata Bhawan, CM Himanta Biswa Sarma directed the officials concerned to carry out a socio-economic assessment of Assam's Indigenous Muslim communities (Goria, Moria, Deshi, Syed & Jolha). This findings of which will guide the Government to take suitable… pic.twitter.com/bx5J7kAH3U

— ANI (@ANI) October 3, 2023

This comes a day after the Nitish Kumar government released the finidings of Bihar's caste survey months ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. The survey revealed that Othe Backward Classes (OBCs) and Economically Backward Classes (EBCs) constitute 63 per cent of the state's total population.

'BJP Doesn't Need Votes From Miya Community'

On Sunday, CM Sarma in a scathing remark said that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) doesn't need votes from the 'Miya' people of 'char' (riverine sandbar) areas for the next 10 years after they reform themselves by leaving practices such as child marriage. The term 'Miya' is a slang used to refer to Bengali-speaking Muslims, according to PTI.

However, he added the 'Miya' people support him, prime minister Narendra Modi and the BJP which they can continue to shout slogans in their favour as well but they shouldn't vote for them.

"BJP will do public welfare and they will support us, but they don't need to vote for us. There is no harm in supporting us. Let them shout 'zindabad' for Himanta Biswa Sarma, Narendra Modi and BJP," he said according to PTI.

The Chief Minister said, "When elections come, I myself will request them not to vote for us. Vote for us if you follow family planning, stop child marriage and shed fundamentalism."

"To complete these, it will take 10 years. We will seek votes after 10 years, not now."

He said that those voting in favour of him and the BJP should not have more than two or three children, must send their daughters to schools, cannot indulge in child marriage and adopt Sufism by leaving fundamentalism.

When he was told that in areas where predominantly Bengali-speaking Muslims live there are no schools, to which he responded that schools would have been set up if he was informed about it.

"It can't happen that minority students won't get a chance to study. We will open seven colleges in minority areas in the coming days," Sarma said.