From Our Correspondent
Guwahati: In order to restore peace and facilitate rapid economic development in the insurgency-hit hills districts of Dima Hasao (erstwhile North Cachar) in Assam, a Memorandum of Settlement (MoS) was signed on Monday between the Government of India, the Government of Assam and both the factions of Dima Halam Daogah (DHD), a Dimasa Tribe militant outfit, at the office of the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) in New Delhi , acceding to an official source here.
As per the MoS a special economic package of Rs 200 crore (Rs 40 crore per annum) over and above the Plan fund over the next five years will be provided to the DHATC to undertake special projects by the Council. The economic package will benefit all communities including the non-Dimasa tribals.
As part of the restructuring and empowerment process, the existing North Cachar Hills Autonomous Council will be renamed as the Dima Hasao Autonomous Territorial Council.
Following the MoS, the DHD shall dissolve itself as an organisation within a reasonable time (six months) as a precursor to the Government initiating further process to implement the agreed decisions of this agreement.
39 subjects will be transferred to the council under Para 3A of the 6th Schedule of the Constitution conferring legislative powers.
The MoS was signed by Sambhu Singh, Joint Secretary (North East), MHA, Sailesh, Principal Secretary, Home & Political, Government of Assam and both the leaders of the DHD factions vis-a-vis DHD(N) and DHD (J) Dilip Nunisa and Jewel Garlosa respectively in the presence of Union Home Minister, Sushil Kumar Shinde, Chief Minister of Assam, Tarun Gogoi.
Shinde said a special package has been given for speedy economic development of Dima Hasao district.
He said that the signing of MoS by militant outfits of a small district would give out a message to other outfits that the only way to progress and prosper is through the process of dialogue.
He called upon other militant outfits to give up armed struggle and to resolve their problems through the peace process.
.Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi said “Most of the militant outfits have realised the futility of violence and have come forward to settle their demands through democratic process. It augurs well for the State in particular and the country in general.”
Even as celebrations have been triggered by the signing of the MoS in most part of Dima Hasao district , the people of distort headquarter Haflong could not go out for celebration due to indefinite curfew imposed since Sunday night following twin blasts.
The DHD had come under ceasefire agreement with the government on January 1, 2003 and (Dilip Nunisa) and the DHD (Jewel Garlosa ) faction also surrendered arms en-masse on October 2, 2009.