Govt signs peace treaty with Assam outfit

The government of India has signed a peace agreement with a tribal insurgent group from Assam, United People's Democratic Solidarity.

The UPDS, a Karbi Tribe insurgent group is based in Karbi Anglong hill district of Assam and was waging an armed struggle for a separate 'homeland' for Karbis in the state.

The MoS was signed in New Delhi on Friday in presence of Union Home Minister P Chidambaram, Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi, Centre's peace interlocutor P C Haldar , Union Home Secretary, RK Singh, according to a communiqué issued by Assam government.

As per the MoS, the UPDS shall dissolve itself as an organisation within a reasonable time (six months) to pave the way for implementation of other clauses in the peace agreement.

A special economic package of Rs 350 crore (Rs 70 crore per annum) over and above the Plan fund over the next five years will be provided to the council that rules Karbi Anglong hill distroct in Assam as per the MoS.

As per the MoS, 39 additional subjects will be transferred to the Council under Para 3A of the 6th Schedule of the Constitution conferring legislative powers.

As per the MoS, steps will be taken to protect the language and culture of Karbi people. The MoS was initialed by Joint Secretary, MHA (North East), Sambhu Singh, Commissioner & Secretary, Home & Political, Government ofAssam, Jishnu Barua and the representatives of UPDS namely, Chairman Mohon Timung and other office bearers - Horen Sing Bey, Kang Jang Terang, Surja Rongphar and Anil Teron.

Signing of the MoS marked the culmination of the peace initiatives undertaken by the government. The UPDS had signed Suspension of Operations agreement with the government and on August 1, 2002 and the subsequent peace talks lasted from 2004 to December 2010.

The MoS pledges time-bound steps to bring about greater devolution of power to grassroots level in Karbi Anglong. A committee, as envisaged in the Article 371B of the Constitution, of the Assam Legislative Assembly will be constituted to deal with the matters relating to the 6th Schedule Councils.

As part of the restructuring and empowerment process, the existing Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council will be renamed as the Karbi Anglong Autonomous Territorial Council.

The State Government has agreed to reorganise the existing autonomous district under the 6th Schedule of the Constitution into four administrative districts for better administrative and developmental administration, as per procedure established by law.

The proposed KAATC will have a 50-member Council to give greater representation to the people living in remote and isolated clusters of villages.

Of these 50 members, 44 are to be elected and the rest are to be nominated by the Governor of Assam. Increase in seats will be effective in the elections of KAATC in 2016-17 or mid-term elections, whichever is earlier.