Rajnath Singh
Union Home Minister , Rajnath. Image - Twitter

The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday approved setting up of a high-level committee for implementation of Clause 6 of the Assam Accord and measures envisaged in the Memorandum of Settlement, 2003 and other issues related to Bodo community.

It may be mentioned the Assam Accord was signed on August 15, 1985 after a six-year-long Assam agitation from 1979 to 1985.

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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 Modi 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.

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According to information, 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.

Besides, 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, it added.

As per the Cabinet decision, 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 and will help fulfil longstanding expectations of the Assamese people, it further stated.

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.

The Union Cabinet on Wednesday approved establishment 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.

Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh, accompanied by Union Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad, briefed the media persons at a press conference in New Delhi where he informed the media about the Cabinet decisions.