New Delhi, October 8, 2012: Amidst escalating tensions in Dima Hasao district, the Centre and the Assam Government sealed a pact with both factions of the DHD, seeking to end eight years of conflicts in the hill district that had stalled several major infrastructure projects passing through the area.
The formal Memorandum of Settlement (MoS) signing ceremony held at North Block was attended by Union Home Minister, Sushil Kumar Shinde, Chief Minister, Tarun Gogoi, Centre’s interlocutor, PC Haldar, Union Home Secretary, RK Singh, State Chief Secretary, Naba Kumar Das, DGP, JN Choudhury, besides top leaders of rival factions of DHD.
The most significant moment came, when Dilip Nunisa tried to reach out to the rival faction by honouring Jewel Garlossa with a traditional scarf.
The hour-long signing ceremony was also attended by about 40 representatives of various tribal and non-tribal groups, village headmen brought by the DHD (N) faction. The MoS was signed by Nunisa and Garlossa on behalf of DHD and Joint Secretary (North-East), Shambhu Singh and Principal Secretary Home and Political, Shri Sailesh on behalf of the State Government.
The MoS has come after protracted negotiations that included a political and economic package worth Rs 200 crore. The demand for inclusion of additional 94 villages spread over adjoining districts was rejected. The demand for withdrawal of cases particularly those involving heinous crimes was not accepted either. Top leaders of the Black Widow faction including Garlossa and Niranjan Hojai have been charged by National Investigation Agency (NIA) and Enforcement Directorate (ED) for heinous crimes.
Hailing the signing of the MoS, his first with any militant outfit, Shinde described it as a golden day, welcoming the two outfits. He said that Government of India wants to engage with any group that abjures violence and decides to come for peace negotiations. “I urge all such groups to give up violence and come for settlement with Government of India,” Shinde said.
An official spokesman of the Home Ministry said that the MoS provides for enhanced autonomy for the North Cachar Hills Autonomous Council (NCHAC), which has been rechristened as Dima Hasao Autonomous Territorial Council (DHATC) and also a special package for speedier socio-economic and educational development of the area, for which the council has been set up.
Under the MoS, a committee would be constituted to deal with matters relating to the Sixth Schedule councils. The DHD shall dissolve itself as an organisation within a reasonable time (six months) as a precursor to the Government initiating further process to implement the agreed decisions of the agreement.
A special economic package of Rs 200 crore (Rs 40 crore per annum) over and above the Plan fund over the next five years will be provided to the DHATC to undertake special projects. Thirty-nine subjects will be transferred to the council under para 3A of the 6th Schedule of the Constitution, conferring legislative powers.
The State Government has agreed in principle to set up a development council with a suitable package for preservation and promotion of culture and language.
The economic package of Rs 200 crore would benefit all communities including the non-tribals. The increase in the strength of the territorial council will ensure suitable representation to all communities. Besides, the provision for setting up village level councils for devolution of powers to the grassroots will benefit the non-Dimasa tribals, as much as the Dimasa tribals. The MoS specifically states that the heritage sites of non-Dimasa indigenous tribals are to be preserved and maintained, said the spokesman.
Earlier, addressing the meeting, Jewel Garlossa, who mostly kept to himself, describing the signing of the MoS as a historic moment, said that they have realised that violence would not bring any solution to their problems. The signing of the MoS is a beginning of a process and every tomorrow would be a better tomorrow. The signing of MoS would bring new vistas in the path of prosperity and development, he said.
Garlossa in his speech though flagged out several issues reiterating the demand for rehabilitation of their cadres, withdrawal of cases lodged against both the factions and people associated with the movement and those lodged by NIA and ED.
Addressing the meeting, Dilip Nunisa urged the Home Minister to sympathetically consider the demand for a nursing college and a government law college in Dima Hasao district.
Describing the Chief Minister as a hero of not only the Ahom community but also the Dima Hasao community, Nunisa said that they are confident of solving the problems through further decentralisation of power.
Describing the ongoing unrest as unfortunate, Nunisa said they have demanded three additional satellite autonomous councils for the non-Dimasa communities living in the area. “We wish to assure all communities irrespective of religion, caste and creed that we respect all and want to ensure peace,” he said.
Earlier, sharing his experience, Haldar told the meeting that though they began the peace process with initial reservations, things later fell in line. He recalled that the most challenging task was to bring both the rival factions together. “However, we could manage to persuade both the factions to sit together,” he said.
Source: Assam Tribune
Signing of A Tripartite MoS Among Central Government, Govt. of Assam and Factions of DIMA Halam Daogah
A Memorandum of Settlement (MoS) with both factions of Dima Halam Daogah (DHD) was signed today at New Delhi by Shri Shambhu Singh, Joint Secretary (NE), MHA, Shri Sailesh, Principal Secretary, Home & Political, Govt. of Assam and the Representatives of DHD(J) and DHD(N).
The MoS was signed in the presence of Union Home Minister Shri Sushilkumar Shinde, Chief Minister of Assam Shri Tarun Gogoi, Union Home Secretary Shri R.K. Singh, Chief Secretary of Assam Shri N.K. Das, DGP of Assam Shri J.N. Choudhuri, Interlocutor Shri P.C. Haldar, ADG (SB) Shri Khagen Sarma and other Senior Officials of Central and State Government.
After realizing the futility of violence, both the factions of DHD came forward and expressed their willingness to give up violence and seek solutions to its problems peacefully within the framework of the Constitution. The MoS provides for enhanced autonomy for the North Cachar Hills Autonomous Council in Assam and also a special package for speedier socio-economic and educational development of the area for which the Council has been set up.
Under the Memorandum of Settlement, a Committee will be constituted to deal with the matters relating to the 6th Schedule Councils. The DHD shall dissolve itself as an organization within a reasonable time as a precursor to the Government initiating further process to implement the agreed decisions of this agreement.
As part of the restructuring and empowerment process, the existing North Cachar Hills Autonomous Council (NCHAC) will be renamed as the Dima Hasao Autonomous Territorial Council (DHATC).
A Special economic package of Rs 200 Crore (Rs. 40 crore per annum) over and above the Plan fund over the next five years will be provided to the DHATC to undertake special projects by the Council.
The State Government of Assam has agreed in principle to set up a Development Council with a suitable package for preservation and promotion of culture, language, etc.
The economic package of Rs. 200 crores will benefit all communities including the non-tribals. The increase in the strength of the territorial council will ensure suitable representation to all communities. Besides, the provision for setting up village level councils for devolution of powers to the grass roots will benefit the Non-Dimasa tribals as much as the Dimasa tribals. The MoS specifically states that the heritage sites of Non-Dimasa indigenous tribals are to be preserved and maintained
~Press Information Bureau
