Govt. notifies HLC for implementation of Clause 6 of Assam Accord

Speed Post News Network

New Delhi : Government has notified the High Level Committee (HLC) for implementation of Clause 6 of Assam Accord. The committee has been given a broad mandate. It is headed by M P Bezbarauah, a retired IAS officer, and includes eminent Assamese persons from different fields. The Committee will submit its report within 6 months from the date of notification. The State Government of Assam will provide necessary administrative and logistic support to the Committee.

The Terms of Reference for the Committee include examining the effectiveness of actions taken since 1985 to implement Clause 6 of the Assam Accord, holding discussions with various stakeholders including social organizations, legal and constitutional experts, eminent persons from the field of art, culture and literature, conservationists, economists, linguists and sociologists, assessing the appropriate level of reservation of seats in Assam Legislative Assembly and Local Bodies for the Assamese people. It will also suggest measures to be taken to protect Assamese and other indigenous languages of Assam.

The Committee will recommend the appropriate level of reservations in employment under the Government of Assam for the Assamese people. It may suggest any other measures as may be necessary to protect, preserve and promote cultural, social, linguistic identity and heritage of the Assamese people.

The HLC has been constituted as per Clause 6 of the Memorandum of Settlement known as the Assam Accord signed on  August 15, 1985. Clause 6 of the Accord states : “Constitutional, legislative and 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.” The HLC will be serviced by the NE Division of MHA, Government of India, according to a PIB release.

Subhash Das, IAS (retd.), Dr Nagen Saikia, former President, Assam Sahitya Sabha, Dhiren Bezbaruah,                       –           former editor of The Sentinel, Dr Mukunda Rajbangshi, educationalist, Ramesh Borpatragohain, Advocate General, Assam,   Rongbong Terang, former President, Assam Sahitya Sabha, one representative of All Assam Students’ Union, Joint Secretary, MHA , Member Secretary, are the other Members of HLC.