The Assam government on Wednesday announced the exemption of tribals, tea tribes, Morans, and Motoks from the two-child norm applicable for government jobs.
Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, addressing the media after a cabinet meeting, said, “The cabinet decided to exempt tea tribes, Morans, Motoks, and Scheduled Tribes from the provision restricting the number of children to two under the population policy. If we adhere to the rule, these populations may gradually become extinct within the next 50 years.”
Sarma pointed out that the Moran community’s population is barely around one lakh, and experts had warned of their possible extinction without policy relaxation. The two-child rule, introduced under the Assam Public Services Rules, 2019, will, however, continue for other communities. 
The CM further stated that while the policy will be gradually implemented for state welfare schemes, the exemption ensures the preservation of these indigenous groups.
Among other major cabinet decisions, Sarma announced that the Tiwari Commission Report on the 1983 Nellie massacre will be tabled in the November Assembly session after verifying the missing signature of the commission chairman.
Additionally, the cabinet approved amendments to the Land Ceiling Act to distribute 2.9 lakh bighas of land among four lakh tea tribe families, calling it a crucial step toward social justice. The government also cleared a revised cost for Assam Petro-Chemicals Ltd’s 500 TPD Methanol and 200 TPD Formalin units, raising the project budget from ₹1,709.18 crore to ₹2,267.22 crore.
