The Centre and Assam government on September 15 signed a tripartite peace accord with eight Adivasi militant outfits of Assam in New Delhi. Home Minister Amit Shah, who was present on the occasion, called it an important day for Assam and the North East.
- The eight rebel groups are Birsa Commando Force (BCF), Adivasi People’s Army (APA), All Adivasi National Liberation Army (AANLA), Adivasi Cobra Military of Assam (ACMA) and Santhali Tiger Force (STF).
- The rest of the three outfits are splinter groups of BCF, AANLA and ACMA.
- The home minister announced a special development package of ₹1,000 crore (₹500 crore each by the Centre and Assam) over a period of five years for development of infrastructure in Adivasi-inhabited villages/areas.
- In the agreement, provisions have been made to protect the social, cultural, ethnic and linguistic identity of Adivasi groups as well as to further strengthen them.
- The agreement provides for setting up of an Adivasi Welfare & Development Council by the Govt. of Assam with the objective of fulfilling the political, economic and educational aspirations; protecting, preserving and promoting social, cultural, linguistic and ethnic identities; and ensuring accelerated and focused development of the Adivasi inhabited villages/ areas as well as tea gardens all over the State.
- The agreement also provides for rehabilitation and re-settlement of armed cadres and measures for welfare of the tea garden workers. A special development package of Rs.1000 crore (Rs.500 crore each by Govt. of India and Govt. of Assam) will be provided over a period of five years for development of infrastructure in Adivasi inhabited villages/areas.
