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Tripartite Talks to Review The Implementation of The Assam Accord
Held in New Delhi on 31.05.2000

Report of the Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India

A tripartite talk with officials and representatives of Government of Assam, Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India and representatives of the All Assam Students' Union (AASU) was held in New Delhi on 31.5.2000. The meeting was held to assess the progress in implementation of the 1985 Assam Accord. The discussion revolved around issues related to general socio-economic development of Assam, border management, problems emerging out of the influx of migrants from Bangladesh etc. with reference to the Assam Accord. Following is the text of the report as released by the Ministry of Home Affairs.

Dr. P.D. Shenoy, Additional Secretary (Home), Ministry of Home Affairs. held a meeting with the office bearers of the All Assam Students Union (AASU) and the representatives of the Government of Assam in connection with the tripartite talks on 31.05.2000. The Govt. of India team comprises Shri G.K.Pillai, Joint Secretary (NE) and Shri Jatinderbir Singh, Director (Assam). Shri M.K. Barooah, Home Secretary, Assam along with senior officials of Govt. of Assam also attended the meeting. Shri Prabin Boro, President, AASU, Shri Amiya Kr. Bhuyyan, General Secretary, AASU Shri Samual Kumar Bhattacharya, Adviser, AASU along with senior office bearers participated in the deliberation. The meeting took place in a cordial atmosphere. The welcome speech of AS (H), MHA and the list of participants is annexed herewith.

The tripartite talks inter-alia focused on devising (a) effective border management for containing influx of illegal migrants from Bangladesh; (b) strengthening of 'Prevention of' Infiltration of Foreigners Scheme in Assam; (c) consolidation of creation of second line of defence to check the illegal migrants (d) expediting the raising of 2 IR Bn in Assam, (e) facilitating the functioning of the Foreigners Tribunals constituted under the Illegal Migrants (Determination by Tribunals) Act, 1983, and (f) Preservation and Updating of the National Register of Citizens.

The Govt. of Assam was urged upon to vigorously take follow-up action on the decisions taken in the meeting in a time bound manner. It was also assured that the Central Govt. will take all necessary measures to accelerate the socio-economic development of Assam. The meeting concluded with a vote of thanks to the Chair.

Welcome Address by Dr. P.D. Shenoy, Additional Secretary,
MHA and Chairman of the Tripartite Committee on Assam Accord.

On behalf of Government of India, I extend a warm welcome to the Office bearers of the All Assam Students Union (AASU) and the representatives of the Government of Assam to the tripartite talks on May 31, 2000. I also take this opportunity to reiterate the commitment of the Central Government for implementation of the Assam Accord.

2. Friends, the last few months have witnessed growing popular mandate for peace and development in Assam. In the general elections to the 13th Lok Sabha, more than 71% of the electorate had voted despite a boycott call of various militant outfits. This is a vivid example of popular faith in democracy. Similarly, nearly 750 militants have surrendered this year reflecting the urge of youth to return to the national mainstream. The Bodo Liberation Tigers have also come for peace negotiations within the Four Corners of the Constitution of India abjuring the cult of violence. As a goodwill gesture, the Government has suspended operations by security forces against the BLT. We fervently hope that other militant outfits will also realize the futility of violence in a democratic society and will soon return to the path of peaceful living.

3. Government of India have sanctioned the construction of balance 797 kms border roads and 2429 kms border fencing on the lndo-Bangladeshi border at a total cost of Rs. 1334 crores. The work on this project would start this year and would be completed by March 2007. Under this scheme, in Assam 77.5 kms. of road and 71.5 kms. of fence have been sanctioned at a tentative cost of Rs. 167 crores.

4. Friends, the Prime Minister visited Shillong leading a high level team consisting of Senior Union Cabinet Ministers to address the security and developmental needs of North-East on January 21-22, 2000. On January 22, Prime Minister announced Rs. 10,271 crore agenda for Socio-Economic Development in the North-East & Sikkim. This major national initiative, inter alia envisages (a) coverage of all the 446 blocks in the North-East under information technology programme in next two years with an allocation of Rs. 100 crores (b) Excise concession in new industrial policy to Numaligarh Refinery in Assam with an annual concession of around Rs.200 crores and (c) an allotment of Rs.30 crores per annum for next 3 years for the development of infrastructure and other facilities in the Bodo Autonomous Council Areas. This special focus on the development of Assam will certainly give a boost to infrastructural development in Assam.

5. 'The flow of funds under the Non-lapsable pool has been further consolidated. An amount of Rs.20 crores has been sanctioned for installation of one lakh shallow tube-wells in Assam. The last meeting of the tripartite sub-committee on Clause VI and VII of the Assam Accord had taken place on April 10, 2000 at Guwahati. After the Committee submits its report further action will be taken.

6. I hope that the deliberations of this tripartite meeting will sharpen our focus on the developmental and social needs of Assam.

ACHIEVEMENTS OF ASSAM ACCORD

The Government of India is fully committed to the implementation of the Assam Accord, 1985. Various measures have been taken in this regard. These include, inter-alia, the following:

FOREIGNER'S ISSUE:

The Citizenship Act, 1955, Citizenship Rules, 1956 and Foreigners (tribunals) Order, 1964, were amended.

Eleven Tribunals under the Foreigners (Tribunals) Order, 1964 have been created in Assam for Identifying foreigners of 1966-71 stream. 24,376 persons declared as foreigners by the Tribunals.

Special Registration officers have been appointed. Sanction was also accorded for the creation of 1280 additional posts under the prevention of Infiltration of Foreigners Scheme.

Sixteen Tribunals under the Illegal Migrants (Determination by Tribunals) Act, 1983 have been created in Assam.

A Sub-Committee involving representatives of Ministry of Law & Justice, Ministry of Finance, Govt. of Assam, All Assam Students Union (AASU) has been Constituted to examine the proposal submitted by AASU and Govt. of Assam under clause VI and VIl of the Assam Accord.

Inauguration of Srimanta Sankaradeva Kalakshetra, Guwahati was inaugurated by Hon'ble President of India in November 1998. (A sum of Rs.18.05 crores has been released).

Jyoti Chitraban (Film) Studio at Guwahati at a cost of Rs.8.79 crores has been modernised and inaugurated b the Chief Minister, Assam in April 1999.

Numaligarh Refinery, set up at a cost of Rs.2,500 crores, and inaugurated by the Prime Minister in July, 1999

Two Central Universities, one at Tejpur and the other at Silchar, have been set up.

An IIT (Indian Institute of Technology) has been set up at Guwahati.

Rail-cum-road bridge at Jogighopa has been commissioned and inaugurated by Prime Minister in April 1998. This has opened road traffic from Jogighopa to Guwahati via South Bank of Brahmaputra.

Kathalguri Power Project 60 (MW) has been commissioned.

LPG Bottling Plan at Bongaigaon has been set up at an estimated cost of Rs.30.68 crores.

3 industrial growth centres at a cost of Rs.20 crores each have been sanctioned at Chariduar, Matia and Sonapur.

The power to issue citizenship certificates now vests only with the Central Government.

94% of sanctioned border fencing of 152.31 Kms has been completed on Assam-Bangladesh border.

Ex-gratia payment was made to the next of kin of persons killed in the course of the agitation.

Disciplinary cases against employees in connection with the agitation were reviewed.

In the matter of recruitment, orders were issued by the Central Government for relaxation in upper age limit upto a maximum of six years in the case of candidates who had ordinarily resided in the state of Assam during the period 1.1.1980 to 15.8.1985.

NSA detenues detained in connection with agitation were released.

 

 

 

 

 
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