Govt forms Committee for implementing Clause 6 of Assam Accord

January 6: The Union Cabinet has approved the setting up of a High Level Committee for implementation of Clause 6 of Assam Accord. The said High Level Committee will also hold discussions with all stakeholders and assess the required quantum of reservation of seats in Assam Legislative Assembly and local bodies for Assamese people. Clause 6 of the Assam Accord signed on August 15, 1985 states that: “Constitutional, legislative and administrative safeguards, as may be appropriate, shall be provided to protect, preserve and promote the cultural, social, linguistic identity and heritage of the Assamese people.”

On 5 January, The Ministry of Home affairs, Government of India issued a notification in which the name of the members of the High Level Committee was stated.

1. Shri M.P. Bezbarauah, IAS (Retd.) Chairman
2. Shri Subhash Das. IAS (Retd ) Member
3. Dr. Nagen Saikia. Member Former President Assam Sahitya Sabha
4. Shri Dhiren Bezbaruah. Member Former editor of The Sentinel
5. Dr. Mukunda Rajbangshi. Member Educationalist
6. Shri Ramesh Borpatragohain, Member Advocate General. Assam
7. Shn Rongbong Terang. Member Former President. Assam Sahitya Sabha
8. One representative of All Assam Students’ Union Member (ix) Joint Secretary. MHA Member Secretary

The Terms of Reference for the Committee are as under:-

• The Committee will examine the effectiveness of actions taken since 1985 to implement Clause 6 of the Assam Accord
• The Committee will hold discussions with various stakeholders including social organizations. legal and constitutional experts. eminent persons from the field of art, culture and literature. conservationists. economists. linguists and sociologists.
• The Committee will assess the appropriate level of reservation of seats in Assam Legislative Assembly and local bodies for the Assamese people.
• The Committee will also suggest measures to be taken to protect Assamese and other indigenous languages of Assam (e) The Committee will recommend the appropriate level of reservations in employment under the Government of Assam for the Assamese people. (0 The Committee may suggest any other measures as may be necessary to protect, preserve and promote cultural, social, linguistic identity and heritage of the Assamese people.

The said notification further stated that the Committee will submit its report within 6 months from the date of notification. The Committee will be serviced by the NE Division of MHA, Government of India. The State Government of Assam will provide necessary administrative and logistic support to the Committee.