News: The All Assam Students’ Union(AASU) which was a part of the Centre’s high-level committee on Clause 6 of Assam Accord has released the confidential report.
Facts:
- Assam Accord: It was a Memorandum of Settlement(MoS) signed between representatives of the Government of India and the leaders of the Assam Movement in 1985.The Accord has set March 24,1971 as the cutoff for the recognition as citizens.
- Clause 6 of the Assam Accord: It provides that appropriate constitutional, legislative and administrative safeguards shall be provided to protect, preserve and promote the cultural, social, linguistic identity and heritage of the Assamese people.
- Committee: In 2019, Government of India had constituted a high-level panel to suggest ways to implement Clause 6 of the 1985 Assam Accord.It was headed by former Gauhati high court judge Justice Biplab Kumar Sarma.
Key Recommendations of the Committee:
- The committee has proposed that the following be considered Assamese people for the purpose of Clause 6:
- Assamese community, residing in the Territory of Assam on or before January 1,1951 or
- Any indigenous tribal community of Assam residing in the territory of Assam on or before January 1,1951 or
- Any other indigenous community of Assam residing in the territory of Assam on or before January 1,1951 or
- All other citizens of India residing in the territory of Assam on or before January 1,1951 and
- Descendants of the above categories.
- The committee has also proposed 80 to 100% reservation in the parliamentary seats of Assam, Assembly seats and local body seats be reserved for the Assamese people.
- Land rights with restrictions imposed on transferring land by any means to persons other than Assamese people among other recommendations.
