Union Cabinet clears panel to promote Assam’s cultural identity

Union Cabinet clears panel to promote Assam’s cultural identity

News:

Cabinet approved setting up of a high-level committee for implementation of Clause 6 of the Assam Accord.

Important Facts:

• Clause 6 of Assam record: Assam Accord was signed on 15th August, 1985. It envisaged 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.
• The move comes days before a joint parliamentary committee on the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2016 is expected to table which makes minority (non-Muslim) immigrants from three neighboring countries — Bangladesh, Afghanistan and Pakistan — eligible for Indian citizenship.
• But as per the Assam Accord, any person who came to the state after the midnight of March 24, 1971, will be identified as a foreigner. So the proposed Bill is seen to violate the Assam Accord by differentiating between migrants on the basis of religion

Role of Committee:

• To assess the required quantum of reservation of seats in Assam Legislative Assembly and local bodies for Assamese people.
• Assess the requirement of measures to be taken to protect Assamese and other indigenous languages of Assam.
• Review quantum of reservation in employment under Government of Assam and other measures to protect, preserve and promote cultural, social, linguistic identity and heritage of Assamese people
• To fulfil the outstanding issues related to the Bodo community, establishment of a Bodo Museum-cum-language and cultural study center, modernization of existing All India Radio Station and Doordarshan Kendra at Kokrajhar and naming a Superfast Train passing through BTAD as ARONAI Express has also been approved.
• The Bodo Accord was signed in 2003 which resulted in the establishment of a Bodoland Territorial Council under Sixth Schedule of the Constitution of India.