AASU releases confidential report on Clause 6 of 'Assam Accord'; here are the key highlights

Guwahati: Irate over the delay in the implementation of Clause VI of the Assam Accord, leaders of the All Assam Students' Union (AASU) today revealed "confidential" details of the recommendations that a high-powered committee had forwarded to the Centre earlier this year.

The AASU leadership has chastised the ruling administration for delay in implementing the provisions of Clause VI of the Accord. Samujjal Bhattacharya, the chief adviser of the apex student body, today chastised the Chief Minister, Sarbananda Sonowal, for the delay. "Is it in the chief minister's almirah or somewhere?", the student leader said at one point.

It needs mention here that the report was submitted after consultations with around 500 organizations and individuals; Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal submitted it to the Centre for implementation. However, there have been no recent developments or "charcha" as to its implementation since the submission.

Clause 6 is of the Accord says: "Constitutional, Legislative & 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."

Clause 6, which is one of the key components of the historic Assam Accord that was signed at the end of a 6-years long Agitation, was brought into play by the Central Government in the midst of the raging statewide protests against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act. The High-Powered Committee headed by the retired High Court Justice Biplab Sharma, also featured some of the key figures from the andolan, notably the AASU. As per the list key recommendations of the Committee to implement the Clause VI report are as follows:

Assamese shall continue to be the Official Language of Assam as per the provisions of the Assam Official Language Act, 1960 throughout the State; there will be appropriate provisions for use of local languages in Barak Valley, Hill Districts, and BTAD.

Mandatory provision of an Assamese language paper should be made applicable for recruitment in State government services with alternatives for Barak Valley, Hill Districts and BTAD regions.

Prompt and adequate measures to be adopted to completely seal the Indo-Bangladesh Border in the line of the Indo-Pakistan Border.

Till deportation of post 1971 stream of declared foreigners is completed, they should be resettled in areas outside the State of Assam.

80% to 100% of seats in Parliament, Assembly Legislative Assembly and Local Bodies which are allotted to the state of Assam should be reserved for the Assamese.

Making of adequate provisions for an Upper House (Legislative Council of Assam) and all seats thereof to be reserved for the upper house.

Government should take immediate steps to prevent a decrease in prime agricultural lands. There has to be a complete ban on the transfer of such land for non-agricultural purposes.

All Tribal Belt and Block Lands should be exempted for the provisions of the Assam State Capital Regional Development Authority, 2017.

State Government must devise schemes in the line with the "Small Tea Garden" revolution in the fields of Agri/Horti/Pisciclture and Animal Husbandry etc, which would restrain the Assamese people from transferring their land to others.

Statutory provisions prohibiting transfer of tea land for any other use without permission of the State Government must be enforced.

In connection to ILP, adequate measures as suggested in Annexure V, p.132 for the creation of enabling provisions in respect of the Inner Line Permit (ILP) system.

80% to 100% of Group C and D level posts in Central Government and Semi-Central Government/ Central PSUs/ Private Sector including under PPP Mode falling and arising in Assam should be reserved for Assamese people.

80% to 100% of jobs under Government of Assam undertakings and 70% and 100% of vacancies arising in private partnerships including PPP mode in the State of Assam shall be reserved for Assamese people.

Constitution of Autonomous Language and Literature Academy/Council and an Autonomous Institute/ Council of Assam and statutory status should be given to protect, preserve and promote all indigenous languages of Assam

The Assam State Biodiversity Board should be strengthened with sufficient financial assistance from both Central and State governments for effective functioning and taking up measures for the consideration of the biodiversity of Assam.

Special assistance from the Central Government as well as from the State Government shall be extended to traditional industries of Assam such as i) Weaving industry of Sualkuchi ii) Bell metal Industry of Sarthebari and Hajo etc by declaring them as Heritage Industries of the state.

Organizations like Jyoti Chitraban Film Society, Dr. Bhupen Hazarika Regional Government Film and Television Institute, Srimanta Sankardev Kalakshetra etc. shall be provided with adequate funds to augment infrastructure.

The complete list of the highlights released by the AASU can be read below:

Also Watch: AASU on Clause 6 Implementation: Why The Delay?