NEW DELHI, Aug 3 � Amidst protests over delay in implementation of the Bodo Accord, Union Home Minister P Chidambaram held the State government responsible for the impasse over grant of Schedule Tribe (ST) status to Bodo-Kacharis living in Karbi Anglong and North Cachar Hills districts.
In a Question Hour discussion in the Rajya Sabha that saw the Chairman expunging some remarks by a visibly upset Biswajeet Daimary, the Home Minister quietly shifted blame on the State government for issuing a second recommendation, which was at variance with the first request on the issue of granting ST status to Bodo-Kacharis living in the two of the State�s hill districts.
Referring to Clause Eight of the memorandum of settlement (MoS), this deals with Bodo-Kacharis living in Karbi Anglong and NC Hills Autonomous Council Area, he gave an update on the status, stating that Registrar General of India gave positive recommendation. The matter went to the National Commission for Scheduled Tribes and it also has supported the inclusion of Bodo-Kacharis in the ST List.
However, in October, 2010, the Government of Assam, while reiterating its earlier recommendation, added that the Bodo-Kacharis, along with other plain tribes living permanently in Karbi Anglong and NC Hills districts and Scheduled Tribes (Hills) living in plain districts of Assam, should be included in the Scheduled Tribes list.
�Now, this recommendation of the Government of Assam is at variance with the earlier recommendation. The Ministry of Tribal Affairs has pointed out the variance in the new recommendation compared to the earlier recommendation. Now, this will mean that not only the Bodo Kacharis but some other tribes will have to be included too,� he said.
This matter has again been referred by the Ministry of Tribal Affairs to the Registrar General of India. �I have advised the Registrar General of India to give his report quickly. Once the report comes, it will again go back to the Ministry of Tribal Affairs, which will have to consult the National Commission for Scheduled Tribes, Chidambaram stated.
Responding to Daimary�s angry outburst, the Home Minister said that government cannot take a decision in haste. It will set one against the other. �There is a new recommendation of the Government of Assam, so please allow the Government to deal with this recommendation in the manner that has been laid down,� he said.
Earlier, Daimary asked Chidambaram whether the Centre proposed to bring amendment in the ST list in the ongoing session of the Parliament. He also pointed that the Bodo Accord was clear on the issue so why can�t the Bodo-Kacharis be included in the List.
The Home Minister in his reply gave a detailed clause-wise update on implementation of the Bodo Accord. At least 846 BLT cadres have been recruited in the Central police forces and approval for appointment of 400 ex-BLT cadres as Special Police Officers has been given to the Assam government.
Replying to a question, Chidambaram opined that the Supreme Court order on appointment of SPOs would not affect the ex-BLT cadres.
A sum of Rs 67.37 crore has been released during 2003-2004 to 2008-2009 for development of administrative infrastructure in BTAD. The Ministry of DoNER has sanctioned 52 projects worth Rs 585.24 crore for creation of socioeconomic infrastructure since 2004-2005 and Rs 505.29 crore has been released to the State Government.
