The Rabha community has started preparing for a very important gathering that will take place at the end of this year. The Rabha Hasong Sixth Schedule Demand Committee will hold its 7th tri-annual conference on December 29 and 30 at Satpara village under the Boko-Chaygaon constituency in Kamrup district. During this two-day event, Rabha organisations will take a major and final decision on how they will participate in the 2026 Assam Assembly elections. The decision will depend on whether the long-standing demand for Sixth Schedule status gets a positive response from the government.
On Friday, the preparations for the conference officially began with a symbolic ceremony called Laikhuta Sthapon. This event took place at the Satpara public playground. The programme was organised by the Rabha Hasong Sixth Schedule Demand Committee along with the All Rabha Students’ Union (ARSU), Rabha Mahila Parishad and other Rabha organisations. The symbolic pillar was set up by Rabha Hasong Autonomous Council (RHAC) Chairman Sonaram Rabha, marking the traditional start of the upcoming conference. Many Rabha leaders and local people attended the program, showing strong unity and determination.
Speaking at the event, ARSU president Motilal Rabha requested support from every community living in the region. He said the upcoming session is very important for the Rabha people and asked everyone to cooperate and guide them. He also said clearly that the Rabha organisations will once again raise the long-pending demand for granting Sixth Schedule status to the Rabha Hasong Autonomous Council area. According to him, this demand will be strongly placed before Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma during the conference. Motilal Rabha made it clear that if the demand is not met, the Rabha groups will discuss new and tougher strategies to continue their movement in the coming days. 
Sixth Schedule Demand Committee president Dashanan Rabha also spoke during the programme. He reminded everyone that this committee was formed in 2003, and from that time, the Rabha groups have been constantly protesting and demanding constitutional protection. He said that the movement has been going on for more than 20 years and the patience of the community should not be taken for granted. According to him, if the government does not grant Sixth Schedule status, then the Rabha organisations will have no choice but to take a strong decision regarding the 2026 Assam elections. He said all Rabha organisations and allied bodies will come together in December to create a united and strong action plan. His message was firm and clear, showing that the Rabha organisations are serious and will not back down easily.
Friday’s ceremony was attended by many Rabha leaders and members of the Rabha Hasong Autonomous Council. RHAC Executive Members Arjun Chetry, Ramakanta Rabha and Aditya Rabha were present. ARSU working president Pradip Rabha and several other leaders and local residents also took part in the event. Many people came and showed their support, which reflects that the issue is not limited to leaders alone but is strongly felt by the Rabha population in the area.
The demand for Sixth Schedule status is not new. The Rabha community has been raising this demand for many years. They believe that Sixth Schedule protection under the Indian Constitution will secure their land rights, identity, culture and self-governance. According to the Rabha organisations, this constitutional safeguard is necessary for the survival and development of the Rabha people in their traditional areas. Over time, different meetings, protests, rallies and discussions have taken place. But the Rabha leaders say that the process is going very slow and the government has not shown enough commitment to fulfil the demand.
