Memorandum PDF Print E-mail MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING (SONOWAL KACHARI ACCORD) March 4, 2005 Dispur 1. Preamble: Government of Assam has been making earnest efforts to provide more power to different tribal and ethnic groups within Assam, so as to bring about speedy development in the areas inhabited by these groups. Towards this end, series of discussions were held with the leaders of different tribal groups, including Sonowal Kacharis. As a result of these discussions, it has been felt expedient to set up an Administrative Authority for the areas predominantly inhabited by the Sonowal Kacharis, the details of which are as follows: 2. Objectives: Objective of setting up the Administrative Authority is to provide maximum possible Autonomy within the framework of the Constitution of India for social, economic, educational, ethic and cultural advancement of the Sonowal Kachari people in the State. 3. Sonowal Kachari Autonomous Council (SKAC) and Sonowal Kachari Village Council (SKVC): It is agreed that the State Government of Assam shall, by suitable legislation, constitute a Council, which shall be known as Sonowal Kachari Autonomous Council and which shall be the Apex Council consisting of satellite areas of Village Council called the Sonowal Kachari Village Council (SKVC). The Sonowal Kachari Village Council shall be constituted with population of 3000 to 5000 (three thousand to five thousand). The list of villages verified by the Deputy Commissioners and scrutinized by the Assam Institute of Research for Tribes and SCs, which is to be included in to the Sonowal Kachari Autonomous Council, is annexed herewith at Annexure-III. Sonowal Kachari Organizations have been claiming inclusion of 600 villages for inclusion. 4. Constitution of Council : Each village Council shall consist of 10(Ten) elected members out of which five will be from Scheduled Tribe Community. Out of 5 (five) reserved seats 1 (One) will be reserved for a woman member. Sonowal Kachari Autonomous Council shall consist of 30 (thirty) elected members out of which 4(four) members shall be nominated by the Govt. of Assam to give representation to those groups/communities of the Council area which are not otherwise represented in it. Out of 26 (twenty six) seats, 13(thirteen) seats shall be reserved for Scheduled Tribes and 5 (five) seats shall be for women. MPs and MLAs belonging to reserved constituencies (ST) of the area shall be ex-office member of the Council. Each village Council shall have elected President and Vice President while the Autonomous Council shall have elected Chief Executive Councilors. Term of office of the Sonowal Kachari Village Council and Sonowal Kachari Autonomous Council shall be 5(five) years and co-terminus. 5. Powers: a. The Sonowal Kachari Village Council shall have executive power in respect of execution of development schemes on 29(twenty nine) subjects as listed in Annexure-I and the Apex Council shall have power on 34 (thirty four) subjects as listed in Annexure-II. These powers will be subject to condition that the powers exercised by any other authority under the specific provision of law made by the Central/State Govt. shall not be delegated / transferred to the authority of Sonowal Kachari Village Council or Sonowal Kachari Autonomous Council. Apex Council shall have the power to make bye-laws/rules and orders, which shall apply to all the Sonowal Kachari Village Council. b. State Govt. shall provide funds from TSP and other resources to the Apex Council on accordance with an appropriate formula to be worked out keeping in mind the resources of the Government, priorities on development works in other areas including other tribal areas along with other relevant deciding factors. The SKAC shall have the powers to raise local resources that fall within their jurisdiction. Finance of SKAC and SKVC shall be managed exclusively by its Executive Council and will be subject to audit as may be decided by the Govt. of Assam. 6. Special provisions for the Sonowal Kachari Autonomous Council: Views of Sonowal Kachari Autonomous Council shall be given due regards for any Act enacted by the State Govt. on religious/social practices, customary laws and procedures for ownership/transfer of land in the Council areas. However, the existing laws, unless amended, shall apply in these areas also; though the authority under such law may consider the views of the Council while exercising powers under these laws in these areas. The Council shall have special provision for taking up schemes/projects anywhere in Assam for the welfare and benefit of Sonowal Kachari people. 7. Employment opportunity: The people of the Council area shall have equal opportunities for employment in different Govt. jobs in accordance with the laws in force for the time being. 8. Constitution of Interim Council and holding of elections:- The Government of Assam shall constitute an Interim Council which shall continue till the elections to the Council take place. Elections to the Council shall be held within 6 months from the date of signing this accord. 9. Protection of Rights of Non-Tribal in Council area: The Govt. of Assam and the Council shall ensure that the rights and interests of the non-tribal and tribals other than Sonowal Kachari as on today living in the Council area, particularly, in the matters of land, industry, trade & commerce etc shall be protected. 10. The Govt. of Assam shall provide adequate land and fund for immediate construction of a Sonowal Kachari Bhawan at Guwahati. 11. The Govt. of Assam shall provide land and fund for construction of Sonowal Kacharis students hostel at the district head quarters of Dibrugarh, Tinsukia, Sibsagar, Jorhat, Golaghat, Lakhimpur and Dhemaji. 12. The Govt. of Assam shall take up measures for survey and settlement of land in the Sonowal Kachari Autonomous Council area and under take a special drive for allotting Land patta to Sonowal Kachari and other tribal people. 13. The Sonowal Kachari organizations agree to call off all forms of agitational programmes on autonomy demand and to extend cooperation to the Govt. for implementation of this accord and establishment of peace & progress of the State. Signed on this 4th day March, 2005 in Guwahati Authorized representatives of Sonowal Kachari Organizations. President All Assam Sonowal Kachari Student Union General Secretary All Assam Sonowal Kachari Student Union President All Sonowal Kachari Jatiyo Parishad Secretary General All Sonowal Kachari Jatiyo Parishad President Sonowal Kachari Autonomy Demand Committee General secretary Sonowal Kachari Autonomy demand Committee President Sonowal Kachari Yuva Parishad General Secretary Sonowal Kachari Yuva Parishad Chief Secretary Govt. of Assam (Tarun Gogoi) Chief Minister, Assam Signed on this 4th day March, 2005 in Guwahati Authorized representatives of Sonowal Kachari Organizations. Aij Kot Lukai Ase Ai Shaikhakari Hakal......????????????
Posted on: Mon, 22 Jul 2013 10:11:49 +0000
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