Peace agreement inked to end decade-old crisis of tribals and tea garden workers in Assam

17 Sep,22 10:48 am
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Assam Tribals Tripartite Peace Agreement: A tripartite peace agreement was recently signed between Centre, Assam Government and eight tribal groups of Assam in the presence of Union Home Minister Amit Shah in New Delhi.

Key Points:

  • The agreement was signed to end decade old crisis of tribal groups and tea garden workers in Assam.
  • The agreement was signed between Assam’s Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and Home Minister Amit Shah on September 15, 2022.
  • The tribal groups which have signed the agreement include, Birsa Commando Force, Adivasi People's Army, All Adivasi National Liberation Army, Adivasi Cobra Military of Assam and Santhal Tiger Force.
  • Since 2016, they have been in a ceasefire with the government of India.
  • The agreement will prove to be another milestone in the direction of making North East region extremism free by 2025 as per the vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi of peaceful and prosperous North East.

About the constituents of the agreement:

  • The agreement states that it is the responsibility of the Government of India (GoI) and Assamese governments to meet the economic, political, and educational goals of the Adivasi people.
  • Provisions have been made to protect and strengthen the cultural, social, ethnic, and linguistic identity of Adivasi groups in the agreement.
  • The agreement also calls for the creation of an Adivasi Welfare and Development Council in order to ensure the swift and targeted development of Tea Gardens.
  • It also outlines measures for the welfare of Tea Garden employees as well as the resettlement and rehabilitation of armed cadres.
  • A special development package of Rs. 1,000 crore (Rs. 500 crore each by the Government of India and the Assam Government) will be distributed over a five-year period for infrastructure development in villages/areas with an Adivasi population.

Peace Agreements:

Several agreements have been signed to ensure peace and development in the North Eastern region in the last three years. These agreements are -

  • NLFT agreement in 2019,
  • BRU-REANG and Bodo accord in 2020,
  • Karbi Anglong agreement in 2021 and
  • Assam-Meghalaya inter-state boundary agreement in 2022.

These agreements have resolved around 65% of border disputes.


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