Assam Cabinet greenlights 'Kiran Sheikh' development council

Assam Cabinet approved the formation of a development council for the 'Kiran Sheikh' community, residing in the Barak Valley.

Assam's Tourism Minister Jayanta Malla Baruah that the decision was taken at a meeting of the council of ministers, presided over by Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Sunday.

"The Kiran Sheikh community in Barak Valley had been demanding a development council for long, " The minister said.


Assam government is also doing socio economic census of indigenous Assamese Muslims.

Assam has the highest Muslim population after Jammu and Kashmir. Muslims comprise 34% of the 3.12 crore population of Assam, of which 4% are indigenous Assamese Muslims and the remaining mostly Bengali-speaking Muslims. The BJP led government in Assam had earlier proposed the creation of a development board for indigenous Muslims communities.

The Assam cabinet meeting had earlier decided that the Directorate of Char Areas Development, Assam to be renamed as the Directorate of Minority Affairs & Char Areas, Assam.

Bengali speaking Muslims are often referred as Miya Muslims. Muslims comprise 34% of the 3.12 crore population of Assam, of which 4% are indigenous Assamese Muslims and the remaining mostly Bengali-speaking Muslims.