Last Updated on: November 27, 2023

The Rabha belongs to the South Assam is a branch of Tibeto Burman linguistic family and they inhabit mostly in the plain districts of Goalpara, Kamrup, Baksa, Bongaigaon, Kokrajhar, Dhubri, Udalguri, Chirang, Sonitpur, Golaghat, Tinsukia, Dhemaji. However, the majority of the Rabha live in southern part of Goalpara and Kamrup district bordering of Meghalaya. The Rabha inhabited areas are Udalguri, Baksa, Chirang, Kokrajhar, have already been included into the newly created BTR or BTAD under the Sixth Schedule. Therefore, creation of Rabha Hasong Autonomous Council now remains confined to the two South Bank of Goalpara and Kamrup District.

In the Kamrup and Goalpara district, the Rabhas, along with some Garo and Boro people predominantly inhabit in a contiguous tract extending East-West wise from Rani to Joyramkuchi and South-North wise from the foothills of Meghalaya up to the National Highway-37 and crossing the NH-37 upto certain places.

There are Five Tribal Belts/Blocks in the South Kamrup Goalpara districts are namely-

1. South Kamrup (Chhaygaon) Tribal Belt (No.RD.78/46/161 dt.22.8.49)
2. South Kamrup (Gauhati) Tribal Belt (No. RD. 74/46/172 dt. 27.2.50)
3. Bardamal Tribal Block in Goalpara district (No.RSD. 14/81/12 dt.9.8.1982)
4. Hatigaon Tribal Block in Goalpara district (No.RSD. 14/81/13 dt. 9.8.1982)
5. Khardang Tribal Block in Goalpara district

Besides the Tribal Belts & Blocks in Goalpara and Kamrup district, there are also some TSP areas and an Assembly Constituency reserves for ST (P) namely Dudhnoi Constituency of Goalpara district.

In the Eighty and Ninety decades, the Rabha Hasong Demand Committee (RHDC) and All Rabha Students’ Union (ARSU) with the collaboration of Rabha people started a democratic movement in the state of Assam for the ethnic identity, socio-economic development, cultural upliftment, education and political rights of the Rabha Community or people and ultimately Govt. of Assam take a decision to create an Autonomous Council for Rabhas for upliftment the Rabha people within a frame area.