In a historic moment for Assam, five Adivasi militant outfits & three splinter groups signed a peace pact with the Government of India and the State Government on September 15. Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma was quick to give the credit where it was due when he thanked the Union Home Minister Amit Shah for his initiatives while thanking the Prime Minister for his guidance. He termed the deal as yet another milestone the State has achieved in recent years.
The five Adivasi outfits who were part of the peace accord are: Birsa Commando Force (BCF), Adivasi People’s Army (APA), All Adivasi National Liberation Army (AANLA), Adivasi Cobra Military of Assam (ACMA) and Santhal Tiger Force (STF). The three splinter groups are of BCF, AANLA and ACMA.
“Cadres of these outfits have been living in designated camps since 2016 when their 1,182 cadres laid down arms & returned to mainstream. I’m sure today’s historic pact that promises adequate rehabilitation of the once misguided youth will usher in a new era of peace in Assam,” Dr Sarma tweeted.
Home Minister Amit Shah said that the agreement was yet another step towards the Prime Minister’s vision of a peaceful North East India by 2025 and to end the decades-old crisis of Adivasis and tea garden workers in Assam.
The agreement also provides for rehabilitation and re-settlement of armed cadres and measures for the welfare of tea garden workers.
A special development package of ₹ 1,000 crore (₹ 500 crore each by Government of India and Government of Assam) will be provided over a period of five years for development of infrastructure in Adivasi inhabited villages/areas.
The agreement provides for setting up of an Adivasi Welfare and Development Council by the Government of Assam with the objective of fulfilling the political, economic and educational aspirations; protecting, preserving and promoting social, cultural, linguistic and ethnic identities.
