Civil societies and plight of marginalised communities – A case of the tea Tribes of Assam

Civil Society, a concept which appeared for the first time in the 18^th Century West represents a separate sphere of human relations and activity. It is solely neither public nor private but perhaps both at once, embodying a whole range of socio-economic and political interactions linking the state with the individual. In India, especially North-East the role of civil society is gradually gaining grounds while addressing many a complex issues affecting this multicultural topography. However, dilemma exists over a common man's perception of civil society as against the state's. While individuals as members of communities have been taking the route of civil society organisations in order to highlight their rights, aspirations as well as grievances in front of the state; on the other hand, state in the name of welfarism is also aiding and promoting certain civil society organisations that develop quasi-political attributes. This is truer in the case of underdeveloped, discriminated and marginalised communities. Hence, increasingly we see a conflict of interest between the individual and the state over the actual role of civil society organisations.

Through this paper, an attempt will be made to understand the dichotomy between state and individual over the sphere of civil society against the backdrop of a marginalised community of the state of Assam, i.e. the Tea Tribes. Herein, we will try to analyse the role played by the three premier civil society organisations representing the community viz. the ACMS, ATTSA, and AASAA in ensuring the empowerment of the community in the state.