GUWAHATI, Feb 16: The Assam government and the All Assam Students’ Union (AASU) have reached an agreement on implementing 38 out of 52 recommendations made by the Justice Biplab Sharma Committee on Clause 6 of the Assam Accord. The decision marks a major step toward addressing long-standing demands for safeguarding the rights of Assam’s indigenous people.

The consensus represents a significant development in Assam’s efforts to protect indigenous rights and uphold the commitments of the historic Accord.

Addressing a press conference on Sunday, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma announced that the implementation process will be reflected in the upcoming state budget, scheduled to be presented on March 10. The government will issue official notifications soon after.

Sarma stated that the recommendations were finalized after incorporating AASU’s suggestions. The remaining 14 will be discussed in another round of talks, followed by a third meeting in April to review all 52 recommendations.

Key Decisions and Implementation Plan

• Establishment of a Directorate of Language: This new body will function independently instead of being under the Home Department.
• Official Language Publications: Government laws, rules, and regulations will be published in Assamese for the Brahmaputra Valley, Bodo for the Bodoland Territorial Region (BTR), and Bengali for the Barak Valley, in addition to English and Assamese.
• Compulsory Education on Regional Identity: History and geography will be mandatory subjects in all government and private schools up to Class VIII to promote awareness of Assam’s heritage.
• Translation of Legal Documents: Gauhati University and Dibrugarh University will be tasked with translating old laws, rules, and regulations into Assamese, with state government support.

Land Protection for Indigenous People

A critical point of agreement is the restriction on land sales and purchases in designated revenue blocks, ensuring that only indigenous people residing in Assam before 1951 can engage in transactions. However, Scheduled Tribes (ST), Scheduled Castes (SC), and six recognized ethnic groups will be exempt from providing certificates for land transactions.

The restriction will apply only to rural areas, not cities or towns.

AASU has proposed extending the rule to newly created urban areas, and the government has agreed to consider this.

A comprehensive land survey will be conducted in char (sandbar) areas to bring them under the revenue system, with further discussions planned before finalizing settlement modalities.

Next Steps: Further Discussions on Pending Recommendations

The Assam government and AASU will hold another round of discussions on the remaining 14 recommendations. A third meeting in early April will revisit all 52 recommendations to ensure a comprehensive approach to implementing Clause 6 of the Assam Accord.

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