Guwahati: Members of at least 17 Adivasi organisations in Assam blocked national highways at several places on Wednesday, seeking Scheduled Tribe (ST) status and a dialogue with five militant groups that are in ceasefire since 2012.

Members of the organisations, under the banner of the Adivasi National Convention, blocked the highways for five hours from 7am at Padmabeel and Karigaon in Kokrajhar, Boholpur in Dhubri, Samthaibari in Chirang, Kodomtol in Baksa, Orang in Udalguri and in Sonitpur districts.

The protesters shouted slogans, demanding fulfilment of their various demands. Many trucks remained stranded, especially on NH 31A and NH 31C that pass through Kokrajhar and Dhubri in lower Assam until they were opened by the agitators.

Memoranda submitted to Prime Minister Narendra Modi through the deputy commissioners demanded that they be called Adivasis and not tea tribe community and given land rights for those living in the forest areas under the Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006.

Giving pattas (land deeds) to landless tea garden workers is another important demand. There are nearly 80 lakh Adivasis in Assam.

Secretary of the convention Birsing Munda said the issues confronting the Adivasis in Assam had remained neglected even as the community had immense contribution to the country's freedom struggle and the state's economy.

"The government is delaying the process of granting ST status and solving the issues raised by the groups that laid down arms, following an appeal from the Centre in 2012. We had raised the issues in the joint monitoring group meeting held on Monday but we only got promises," he said.

The protesters demanded that the number of designated camps be increased from five at present which are not sufficient for more than 1,200 cadres and increase of the monthly stipend amount from Rs 3,000.

The Adivasi groups were planning a series of agitation from next month in support of their demands, he added.