The Rabha Hasong Autonomous Council (RHAC) was constituted by the Government of Assam in 1995. It was constituted for development in the areas of economic, educational, socio-cultural and ethnic identity of Rabha people residing in the council area. RHAC has different tribes such as Rabha, Bodo, Garo, Hajong etc. The majority of the population in RHAC is Rabha. Currently the RHAC head office is located at Dudhnoi, Assam. The current chief of the RHAC is Tankeswar Rabha.
The RHAC region spans the southern bank of the mighty Brahmaputra River, extending from Jayramkuchi in Lakhipur Rev. Circle of Goalpara District to Lakhara in Palashbari Rev. Circle of Kamrup District, and from the southern bank of the Brahmaputra to the Assam border with Meghalaya (Garo Hills).
The RHAC region spans significant portions of Kamrup and Goalpara Districts, encompassing an approximate area of 6,000 square kilometers. Initially, the council area comprised 306 villages across these districts.
However, according to Government Notification No. TAD/BC/135/2005/10 dated May 17, 2005, the council's jurisdiction now spans 779 villages with a total population of 553,868 individuals. Among these, 329,671 belong to Scheduled Tribes, 15,756 to Scheduled Castes, and the remaining 208,443 are from General Castes.
Aims and Objectives
The primary aim of the R.H.A.C (Rabha Hasong Autonomous Council) is to operate autonomously within the framework of the Indian constitution, striving for the advancement of the social, economic, educational, and cultural aspects of the Rabha, ST and other ethnic populace in the state.
The Council diligently works to preserve and promote these fundamental traits of the Rabha, ST and other ethnic community, seeking to comprehensively address the community's needs and expectations. Each proposed development scheme is tailored to elevate the community, aiming to bridge the gap between their needs and the broader national context.
Focused on reducing poverty levels and enhancing the overall well-being of Rabha, ST and other ethnic community members, the Council acknowledges the potential for more targeted, locally-focussed projects at the grassroots level, complementing the initiatives of the state and central governments.
History
The Rabha Hasong Autonomous Council (RHAC) has been constituted with its headquarters at Dudhnai town.[1] The jurisdiction of this council extends up to Rani area of Kamrup district and embraces almost the entire district of Goalpara. The autonomous council has been created to fulfill the longstanding demands of the Rabha people of the area.
The first elections was held in 2013 to constitute the General Council.
Since its inception, the RHAC has encountered a multitude of significant challenges, resembling a newborn finding its way through unfamiliar terrain. Initially without a dedicated building for offices and essential facilities, the Council has steadily progressed to meet the needs and dreams of both the Rabha people and other communities living within its jurisdiction.
Initially, the Council encompassed 306 Revenue Villages with an estimated population of 350,000. However, its jurisdiction expanded to 779 Revenue Villages following Government Notification No. TAD/BC/135/2005/10, dated May 17th, 2005. It's important to note that during its early period, there was no single window system for approving and disbursing funds to the Council, a system that was established in 2003-04.
It's noteworthy that despite the noticeably meagre flow of funds to the RHAC, which falls short of meeting the needs and aspirations of its people, the Council has persistently forged ahead. Initially, the Council was governed by government-nominated members. However, after the democratic election conducted in 2013, elected members took charge, leading to a gradual increase in the Council's fund allocation to a more reasonable status.
This Council comprises 34 major departments, each responsible for implementing genuinely need-based developmental schemes. These departments cover areas such as Education, Agriculture, Rural Roads & Bridges, Health & Family Welfare, Sports & Youth Welfare, Panchayat & Rural Development, PHE (Drinking Water), Tribal Welfare, Tourism, Social Welfare, Handloom & Textiles, Sericulture, Minor Irrigation, Cultural Affairs, and more.
The Tribal community, including the RHAC, faces significant educational backwardness, evident in the poor infrastructure of school buildings and related facilities. However, whenever the RHAC has had the opportunity to enhance the field of education, it has consistently seized it. Efforts have been made through provisions like Teaching Learning Materials (TLM), school building construction, and additional classroom construction, all aimed at advancing the educational sector.
The vast southern region of the Council area, nearly the entire foothills bordering Assam and Meghalaya, remains largely inaccessible by roads or any means of communication. Additionally, village roads in other areas are in a deplorable state, necessitating their improvement, renovation, or reconstruction. Recognizing the pivotal role of communication in fostering rapid development, the RHAC is giving utmost priority to taking necessary actions in this regard.
Understanding that an efficient communication system is vital for progress, a significant portion of the allocated budget is dedicated to the development of Rural Roads & Bridges. Initially, due to limited budgetary allocations, less attention was directed toward this sector. However, the Council has shifted its focus towards communication in recent times. As a result, numerous concrete roads have been improved and constructed, significantly enhancing the communication infrastructure compared to earlier times.
Within the RHAC area, numerous remote regions pose significant challenges in accessing medical facilities. Consequently, the Council has taken measures to address these issues by deploying multiple ambulances, ensuring better healthcare access for villagers in remote areas. Moreover, the Council consistently endeavors to improve the infrastructure of Mini Primary Health Centers (PHCs), Health Sub-Centers, First Referral Units (FRUs), and Community Health Centers (CHCs), aiming to cater to the healthcare needs of the people within the RHAC more effectively.
The people of RHAC predominantly rely on agriculture, and to cater to their interests, the Council has initiated numerous beneficial schemes aimed at uplifting the Tribal community. The RHAC area holds immense potential for diverse agricultural activities. Recognizing this potential, the Council has implemented various agricultural and allied sector schemes beneficial to the people, aimed at fostering economic upliftment.
Recognizing that Sports & Youth are fundamental drivers for enhancing development in the area, communities, and the state, the RHAC consistently focuses on implementing various beneficial schemes for the youth of RHAC and the sports sector. This includes conducting extensive sports training programs encompassing football, volleyball, martial arts, and more. Additionally, the Council encourages participation in National/State Level sports events and endeavours to develop the sports field to foster a thriving sports culture.
Within the Tribal Welfare Department, the Council implements diverse developmental schemes aimed at benefiting tribal communities alongside other ethnic groups within RHAC. These initiatives encompass infrastructural development, the construction of various Community Development Centers, and offering one-time scholarships for ST Students, among other supportive measures for Tribal Organizations.
This Council has recently introduced several special schemes aimed at recognizing and encouraging achievements in various sectors within RHAC. These schemes include awards in categories such as Agriculture, Education, Sports, Peace & Integrity, Youth, Women Empowerment, Sangbadikota, Sericulture activities, Entrepreneurship, and more. Their goal is to motivate and acknowledge the contributions of individuals within the RHAC community across diverse fields.
The construction of a permanent Secretariat Building, a longstanding aspiration of the RHAC community, is finally underway, thanks to the support and grace of the people. The building, a G + 1 structure, is in progress and will soon become a significant asset for the Council in the upcoming year. [2]
Boro, also called Bodo, is an ethnolinguistic group native to the state of Assam in India. They are a part of the greater Bodo-Kachari family of ethnolinguistic groups and are spread across northeastern India. They are concentrated mainly in the Bodoland Territorial Region of Assam, though Boros inhabit all other districts of Assam and Meghalaya.
The Bodoland Territorial Region (BTR) is an autonomous division in Assam, India, and a proposed state in Northeast India. It is made up of five districts on the north bank of the Brahmaputra River below the foothills of Bhutan and Arunachal Pradesh. It is administered by an elected body known as the Bodoland Territorial Council which came into existence under the terms of a peace agreement signed in February 2003 and its autonomy was further extended by an agreement signed in January 2020. The region covers an area of over nine thousand square kilometres and is predominantly inhabited by the Bodo people and other indigenous communities of Assam.
Goalpara district is an administrative district of the Indian state of Assam.
Goalpara ) is a city and the district headquarters of Goalpara district, Assam, India. It is situated 134 kilometres (83 mi) to the west of Guwahati.
The Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC) is an autonomous council for the Bodoland Territorial Region established under 6th Schedule of The Constitution of India according to the Memorandum of Settlement between Bodoland Liberation Tiger Force (BLTF) and Government of India and Government of Assam.
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Dudhnoi is a town in Goalpara district, Assam, India.
The Koch are a small trans-border ethnic group of Assam and Meghalaya in India and northern Bangladesh. The group consists of nine matrilineal and strictly exogamous clans, with some of them preserving a hitherto sparsely documented Boro-Garo language called Koch, whereas others have switched to local varieties of Indo-Aryan languages. It is a Scheduled Tribe in Meghalaya, India. Koches want to preserve language and culture and heritage.
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Natun Batabari is a village in Kamrup rural district, situated in Rani, Kamrup.The village is located on the Rabha Hasong Autonomous Council area as well as the Assam Meghalaya border.
Moran Autonomous Council is an autonomous council in the Indian state of Assam, for development and protection of ethnic Moran people. It was formed in 2020.
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