Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma
– Photo: pti
Expansion
Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Saturday said the Assam government will implement the 52 recommendations of the Justice Biplab Sarma Committee on Clause 6 of the Assam Accord to protect the interests of the indigenous people. Clause 6 of the Assam Accord states that appropriate constitutional, legislative and administrative safeguards will be provided to protect the cultural, social, linguistic identity and heritage of the Assamese people. The CM said these recommendations of the panel will be implemented by April 15 next year.
Let us tell you that the state cabinet had decided to implement 57 out of 67 recommendations of the committee in its meeting on Wednesday. The cabinet had discussed in detail the various recommendations of the panel to protect and safeguard the land, language and culture of the indigenous people of Assam.
CM Sarma said in a press conference, 'The implementation of the committee's recommendations can be divided into three parts, 52 of which can be implemented directly by the state government, five can be jointly implemented by the state and central governments, while the rest fall under the purview of the Centre.'
Sarma also announced that the 52 recommendations are mostly safeguards related to language and land rights of indigenous people. The recommendations also include full implementation of the Assam Accord of 1985 by formulating a time-bound action plan without any delay. He said the state government has minutely analysed the committee's recommendations.
“Initially we were focusing on how to address complex issues, but now we have decided to implement those issues which are within the purview of the state government,” he said. Sarma said the group of ministers would discuss the matter with the All Assam Students Union (AASU) and other organisations every month and “we will ensure that the recommendations are implemented by Bohag Bihu in April.”
The recommendations will apply only to the districts of the Brahmaputra Valley and not to the three districts of Barak Valley — Dima Hasao, Karbi Anglong and the Sixth Schedule areas of the Bodoland Territorial Region (BTR).
Sarma said some recommendations, such as reservation of 80 per cent seats for Assamese people in assembly, Lok Sabha and panchayat elections, cannot be implemented by the state government due to the diverse population in Barak Valley and the Sixth Schedule area. “Consultations will be held with the concerned authorities in Barak Valley and Sixth Schedule areas before deciding whether it will be implemented there or not,” Sarma said.