Guwahati, October 24: In a significant policy shift aimed at safeguarding indigenous and micro communities, the Assam Government on Thursday decided to exempt tribal groups, tea tribes, Morans, and Motoks from the two-child norm for government job eligibility. The move seeks to preserve the cultural identity and prevent population decline among these smaller communities.

Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, announcing the decision after a Cabinet meeting in Dispur, said, “If we stick to the policy, these populations will lose their distinct identities and gradually become extinct in the next 50 years.” He added that the Moran community, one of Assam’s oldest ethnic groups, currently has an estimated population of just around one lakh.

The two-child policy was originally introduced under the Assam Public Services (Application of Small Family Norms in Direct Recruitment) Rules, 2019, and came into effect in January 2021. It bars individuals with more than two children from holding state government jobs. The policy was also applied to panchayat elections through an amendment to the Assam Panchayat Act, 1994, in 2018.

Sarma noted that the government had consulted social scientists before finalizing the exemption, observing that the survival of these micro communities would be at risk if the two-child policy continued to apply. Earlier, in September 2021, the state had already waived the policy for Scheduled Castes (SC), Scheduled Tribes (ST), and other traditional forest-dwelling communities for government employment.

Thursday’s decision formally extends this exemption to Morans, Motoks, and tea tribes, underscoring the government’s commitment to protect Assam’s indigenous heritage and ensure equitable representation in state services. Sarma emphasized, “Our goal is not just population control but social preservation. These communities have contributed immensely to Assam’s identity, and their existence must be protected.”