On September 15, the Centre and Assam Government signed a tripartite agreement with eight armed Adivasi groups in Assam, reports The Indian Express. The groups that signed the agreement 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 remaining three outfits are splinter groups of BCF, AANLA, and ACMA. The Times of India adds that as per the agreement the Union and the State Government will fulfil the Adivasi groups’ political, economic and educational aspirations; protect, preserve and promote their social, cultural, linguistic and ethnic identity; ensure focused and rapid development of tea gardens and Adivasi villages of Assam; establish an Adivasi welfare and development council; rehabilitate armed cadres and ensure welfare of tea garden workers; and provide a INR 10 billion special development package for infrastructure upgrade in Adivasi villages.