Assam Cabinet nod for implementation of clause 6 of Assam Accord

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaSeptember 4, 2024

In a significant development, the Assam Cabinet on Wednesday night resolved to implement 57 out of the 67 recommendations made in the Justice Biplab Kumar Sarma Committee report on the implementation of Clause 6 of the historic Assam Accord to provide political safeguards to the Assamese people.

Under clause 6 of the historic Assam, Accord, constitutional, legislative and administrative safeguards will be provided to protect, preserve and promote the cultural, social, and linguistic identity and heritage of the Assamese people.

The 14-member committee, headed by the High Court judge Biplab Kumar Sarma was constituted by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) in 2020 following widespread protests against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), 2019 to study the implementation of clause 6. The Committee submitted its report on February 25, 2021, to then-Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal.

“Justice Biplab Sarma’s committee granted three years to the state government to examine the recommendations. We have formed a Group of Ministers (GoM), which includes leaders from the All Assam Students Union (AASU), to study and determine the ways to implement the recommendations,” Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma told reporters after the cabinet meeting on Wednesday night.

“The cabinet today reviewed the report and resolved to implement 57 out of the 67 recommendations within the ambit of the state government. To ensure a consensus on these decisions, the GoM will discuss them with leaders of the AASU,” Sarma said.

Sarma also said that the state government will address the remaining 10 recommendations by taking them up with the Central government. He also said that, of these 10 recommendations, the Centre has already implemented one or two points.

The chief minister said before implementing the recommendations, the state government will need to hold discussions with the people of Barak Valley, as well as the Sixth Schedule areas of Karbi Anglong, Dima Hasao, and the Bodoland Territorial Region (BTR).

“Apart from Barak Valley, Karbi Anglong, Dima Hasao, and the BTR, the recommendations will be implemented in all other parts of the state,” he also said.

“The state government is considering measures that go beyond the recommendations of the Sarma Committee to protect the land rights of indigenous people. The government plans to introduce a bill in the next session of the state assembly specifically aimed at protecting the land rights of Indigenous people across the state,” he added.