Guwahati: The Government of Assam on Saturday signed two Memorandums of Settlement (MoS) with several Kuki and Hmar organisations to promote peace, rehabilitation and development in their communities.
The agreements were signed at Dispur in Guwahati in the presence of Assam Education Minister Ranoj Pegu. The MoS were signed with the United Kukigam Defence Army (UKDA), Kuki Revolutionary Army (KRA), Kuki Liberation Organization/Kuki Liberation Army (KLO/KLA), and the Hmar Peoples’ Convention Democratic (HPC-D).
According to officials, the move follows years of dialogue after these groups laid down arms in 2012 and entered into Suspension of Operations (SoO) agreements with the state government. Since then, several rounds of tripartite talks were held, eventually paving the way for the final settlement.
Under the agreement, the state government will establish a Kuki Welfare and Development Council and a Hmar Welfare Development Council in Kuki- and Hmar-dominated areas of the state. Both councils will have a chairman, deputy chairman, chief executive member, executive members and other nominated members, with their headquarters located in Guwahati.
The councils will receive financial allocations from the state government and will prepare development proposals for their respective communities. These plans will be submitted to the state’s Transformation and Development Department for approval.
The MoS also outlines a range of development initiatives aimed at accelerating socio-economic progress in Kuki and Hmar inhabited areas while preserving their cultural, linguistic and ethnic identities.
The government has also committed to rehabilitating surrendered cadres in accordance with existing policies. Families of individuals who lost their lives during the armed conflict will receive financial compensation.
Speaking after the signing ceremony, Minister Ranoj Pegu said the councils would be provided with dedicated funds to implement development programmes for the communities. He added that the government would also work to rehabilitate former members who had surrendered arms and extend support to affected families.
Pegu further noted that efforts are underway to bring back individuals still living in forest areas and resolve their issues through dialogue. He also said the government plans to introduce education and training programmes in local languages and establish new educational institutions in underserved areas.
Highlighting the broader peace process in the state, Pegu said militancy in Assam has significantly declined in recent years. He noted that the Government of India and the Assam government have signed multiple peace agreements with groups such as the United Liberation Front of Asom factions and other insurgent outfits, leading to the rehabilitation of more than 9,000 surrendered cadres.
The agreements on behalf of the state government were signed by Additional Chief Secretary Ajay Tewari of the Home and Political Department. Senior officials, including former Special Additional Director General of Police (SB) Hiren Ch. Nath and Home and Political Department Secretary Masanda Pertin, were also present at the event.