GUWAHATI: The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday approved setting up of a high-level committee for implementation of the Clause 6 of the Assam Accord.
The Cabinet meeting also gave its nod for measures envisaged in the Memorandum of Settlement (MoS) or Bodo Accord , 2003 and other issues related to Bodo community.
Assam Accord was signed on August 15, 1985 after a six-year-long Assam agitation from 1979 to 1985.
The Clause 6 of the Assam Accord envisaged that appropriate constitutional, legislative and administrative safeguards, shall be provided to protect, preserve and promote the cultural, social, linguistic identity and heritage of the Assamese people.
But the Clause 6 of the Assam Accord has not been fully implemented even after 35 years after signing of the Accord.
The Cabinet on Wednesday approved the setting up of a high-level committee to suggest constitutional, legislative and administrative safeguards as envisaged in Clause 6 of the Assam Accord, stated a PIB release.
The Committee will examine the effectiveness of actions since 1985 to implement Clause 6 of the Assam Accord.
The Committee will also have discussions with all stakeholders and assess the required quantum of reservation of seats in Assam Legislative Assembly and local bodies for the Assamese people.
The Committee will also assess the requirement of measures to be taken to protect Assamese and other indigenous languages of Assam, quantum of reservation in employment under Government of Assam and other measures to protect, preserve and promote cultural, social, linguistic identity and heritage of Assamese people, according a communiqué issued by the PIB.
The Ministry of Home Affairs will issue the composition and terms of reference of the committee. It is expected that the setting up of the committee will pave the way for the implementation of the Assam Accord in letter and spirit.
At a time when most of the Bodo organisations including ABSU have been demanding solution to the separate Bodoland State issue, the Union Cabinet approved a number of measures to fulfil the outstanding issues related to the Bodo community.
Cabinet gave nod for setting up of a Bodo Musuem-cum-language and cultural study centre, modernisation of existing All India Radio Station and Doordarshan Kendra at Kokrajhar and naming a Superfast Train passing through BTAD as ARONAI Express. Relevant ministries will take the required actions to implement these decisions, the release stated.
It was also decided that the State Government would take necessary measures related to appropriate land policy and land laws, besides setting up of Institutions for Research and Documentation of Customs, Traditions and Languages of indigenous communities.