Guwahati: The Asom Anusuchit Jati Yuba Chatra Santha on Monday asked chief minister Sarbananda Sonowal to keep his word on renewal of Scheduled Caste certificates and weed out fake certificates through the state-level caste scrutiny committee in the state at the earliest.

The Santha organised a news conference, addressed by its secretary Nityananda Das, to place its demands here on Tuesday.

Altogether 43 lakh SCs from the 16 sub-castes of Basfor, Buimali, Bittal, Bania, Dhupi or Dhubi, Hira, Jalkeot, Jaloumalou, Kaibarta or Jalia, Lalbagi, Mahar, Metor or Bhangi, Mochi or Richi, Namsudra, Patoni and Sutradhar living in Assam were included for reservation under constitutional provisions. These communities are entitled to 7 per cent reservation in different departments of the state government but almost 4 per cent of these were occupied by fake SC certificate holders, according to the organisation.

Das said, "The chief minister had declared publicly in many meetings since last year that SC certificates would be renewed. He had also accepted our recommendations regarding weeding out fake SC certificate holders from government posts and students in educational institutions but nothing has been done so far. Every year, hundreds of seats in engineering and medical education institutions are allotted to fake SC certificate holders. The children of senior government servants are availing scholarships to study in educational institutions outside the state by submitting fake caste certificates. There are also many instances of non-SC people from outside the state enjoying the benefits due to the SC community from the state."

"We warn those taking advantage of the lax certification system in the state to desist from depriving genuine SC people in the state. A fake caste certificate holder deprives not only a genuine SC candidate but also a meritorious general caste candidate. The state-level caste scrutiny committee, set up under the guidelines of the Supreme Court in 1994, is operating in name only. It is a toothless body that has been unable to take action against fake SCs. We demand revamping of the committee," Das said.

The organisation alleged that Gauhati Medical College Hospital principal Ramen Talukdar had obtained his medical degree by submitting false caste certificate.

The Santha will organise a mass gathering of SCs in the city on July 2 to press the government on these issues. A vigorous agitation has been threatened in case of inaction by the government.