In this article, we’ll explore the Assam Accord of 1985, a landmark agreement that ended years of unrest in Assam. Signed between the Government of India and Assam Movement leaders, it addressed key issues like illegal immigration, cultural preservation, and political autonomy. Understanding this historic pact is crucial for APSC CCE and other state exams, as it remains a significant event in Indian socio-political history. Let’s dive in!
Assam Accord: A Brief Overview
The Assam Accord, a Memorandum of Settlement (MoS), signed in the early hours of August 15, 1985, by the Union government, the All Assam Students’ Union (AASU) and the All Assam Gana Sangram Parishad ended the six year bloody agitation (1979-1985) to detect, disenfranchise and deport “illegal” residents from the State.
It also altered the nature and perception of India’s federal characteristics and left an indelible imprint on the issue of citizenship in the country.
At the core of the Assam Accord was the “Foreigners Issue” in Clause 5 of the MoS. It states that all persons who came to Assam prior to 1.1.1966 shall be regularized. Those who came between 1.1.1966 and March 24, 1971, shall be detected in accordance with the relevant laws and removed from the electoral rolls for 10 years.
On the expiry of 10 years, the names of all such persons shall be restored in the electoral rolls. The subsection 8 of Clause 5 states “Foreigners who came to Assam on or after March 25, 1971 shall continue to be detected, deleted and expelled in accordance with law.
Immediate and practical steps shall be taken to expel such foreigners. Integral to Clause 5, Clause 6 of the Accord assures Constitutional, legislative and administrative safeguards to “protect, preserve and promote the cultural, social, linguistic identity and heritage of the Assamese people.
Assam Accord and Evolution of Citizenship Status
The Assam Accord was signed between AASU, AAGSP, Central and State Governments on the foreigner problem issue on 15th August 1985, which determined 1st January 1966 as the cut off date for the purpose of detection and deletion of foreigners and allowed for citizenship for all persons coming to Assam from “Specified Territory” before the cutoff date.
It further specifies that all persons who came to Assam prior to 1st January 1966 (inclusive) and up to 24th March 1971 (midnight) shall be detected in accordance with the provisions of the Foreigners Act, 1946 and the Foreigners (Tribunals) Order, 1939. Name of foreigners so detected will be deleted from the Electoral Rolls in force. Such persons will be required to register themselves before the Registration Officers of the respective districts in accordance with the provisions of the Registration of Foreigners Act, 1939 and the Registration of Foreigners Rules, 1939.
Foreigners who came to Assam on or after 25th March 1971 shall continue to be detected, deleted and expelled in accordance with law.
Safeguards and economic development
Clause 6 Constitutional, legislative and administrative safeguards, as may be appropriate shall be provided to protect, preserve and promote the culture, social, linguistic identity and heritage of the Assamese people.
Clause 7 The Government takes this opportunity to renew their commitment for the speedy all round economic development of Assam, so as to improve the standard of living of the people.
Special emphasis will be placed on education and science and technology through establishment of national institutions.
Achievements of the Assam Accord
The Government of India is fully committed to the implementation of the Assam Accord, 1985. Various measures have been taken in this regard. These include, inter-alia, the following:
- The Citizenship Act, 1955, Citizenship Rules, 1956 and Foreigners (tribunals) Order, 1964, were amended.
- Eleven Tribunals under the Foreigners (Tribunals) Order, 1964 have been created in Assam for Identifying foreigners of 1966-71 stream. 24,376 persons declared as foreigners by the Tribunals.
- Special Registration officers have been appointed. Sanction was also accorded for the creation of 1280 additional posts under the prevention of Infiltration of Foreigners Scheme.
- Sixteen Tribunals under the Illegal Migrants (Determination by Tribunals) Act, 1983 have been created in Assam.
- A Sub-Committee involving representatives of Ministry of Law & Justice, Ministry of Finance, Govt. of Assam, All Assam Students Union (AASU) has been Constituted to examine the proposal submitted by AASU and Govt. of Assam under clause VI and VIl of the Assam Accord.
- Inauguration of Srimanta Sankaradeva Kalakshetra, Guwahati was inaugurated by Hon’ble President of India in November 1998. (A sum of Rs.18.05 crores has been released).
- Jyoti Chitraban (Film) Studio at Guwahati at a cost of Rs.8.79 crores has been modernised and inaugurated by the Chief Minister, Assam in April 1999.
- Numaligarh Refinery, set up at a cost of Rs.2,500 crores, and inaugurated by the Prime Minister in July, 1999 Two Central Universities, one at Tezpur and the other at Silchar, have been set up.
- An IIT (Indian Institute of Technology) has been set up at Guwahati.
- Rail-cum-road bridge at Jogighopa was commissioned and inaugurated by the Prime Minister in April 1998. This has opened road traffic from Jogighopa to Guwahati via the South Bank of Brahmaputra.
- Kathalguri Power Project 60 (MW) has been commissioned.
- LPG Bottling Plant at Bongaigaon has been set up at an estimated cost of Rs.30.68 crores.
- 3 industrial growth centres at a cost of Rs.20 crores each have been sanctioned at Chariduar, Matia and Sonapur.
- The power to issue citizenship certificates now vests only with the Central Government.
- 94% of sanctioned border fencing of 152.31 Kms has been completed on Assam-Bangladesh border.
- Ex-gratia payment was made to the next of kin of persons killed in the course of the agitation.
- Disciplinary cases against employees in connection with the agitation were reviewed.
- In the matter of recruitment, orders were issued by the Central Government for relaxation in upper age limit up to a maximum of six years in the case of candidates who had ordinarily resided in the state of Assam during the period 1.1.1980 to 15.8.1985.
- NSA detenues detained in connection with agitation were released.
Read: Population of Assam
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