GUWAHATI: The government of India has signed memorandum of settlement (MoS) or a peace agreement with a tribal militants group from Assam, United People’s Democratic Solidarity (UPDS).
The UPDS, a Karbi Tribe militant group is based in Karbi Anglong hill district of Assam and was waging an armed struggle for a separate ‘homeland’ for Karbis in assam
The MoS was signed in New Delhi 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 here on Friday evening.
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 initialled by Joint Secretary, MHA (North East), Sambhu Singh, Commissioner & Secretary, Home & Political, Govt. of Assam, 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 based in Karbi Anglong Hill district of Assam, had signed Suspension of Operations (SoP) agreement with Government of India 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 hill district in Assam. As part of the restructuring and empowerment process, the existing Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council (KAAC) will be renamed as the Karbi Anglong Autonomous Territorial Council (KAATC).
The proposed KAATC will have a 50-member Council to give greater representation to the people living in remote and isolated clusters of villages.
