Clause 6 of the Assam Accord – UPSC GS3

The clause 6 of the Assam Accord reads “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 Assam Accord came as a culmination of a movement against immigration from Bangladesh.

The cutoff date to be considered as citizens of India under the accord was set at March 24, 1971.

The immigrant’s up to March 24, 1971, will get all rights as citizens of India.

But the immigrants are not eligible for safeguards meant for Assamese people because the cutoff for defining “Assamese people” eligible for the proposed safeguards was set at National registry of Citizens, 1951.

Hence those who migrated between 1951 and 1971 to Assam would be Indian citizens, but would not be eligible for safeguards meant for “Assamese people”.

The Union cabinet has approved the setting up of a high-level committee for the implementation of clause 6 of the Assam Accord.

The committee is formed to address the sense of feeling that clause 6 has not been fully implemented even almost 35 years after the accord was signed.

The committee shall examine the effectiveness of actions since 1985 to implement the clause.

The committee will suggest constitutional, legislative and administrative safeguards as envisaged in clause 6.

Examine the measures to be taken to protect Assamese and other indigenous languages of Assam.

Assessing the quantum of reservation in employment under the government of Assam and other measures to protect, preserve and promote the cultural, social, linguistic identity and heritage of Assamese people.

Assess the required quantum of reservation of seats in Assam assembly and local bodies for Assamese people.