Assam Cabinet approved the formation of a development council for the Kiran Sheikh community in Barak Valley. Assam government is conducting a socio-economic census of indigenous Assamese Muslims. The BJP-led government proposed a development board for indigenous Muslim communities.
Assam s Chief Minister, Himanta Biswa Sarma, has announced plans to reduce the number of private madrassas in the state by 1000. Currently, there are 3000 such madrassas in the state, with a socio-economic assessment for indigenous Assamese Muslims set to be completed this year. The Assam government is in negotiations with Madrassa bodies to reduce private madrassas from 3000.
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.