Pallab Bhattacharyya

The birth of ULFA on 7 April 1979 almost coinciding with the start of the Assam Agitation, its rise in the nineties and the first decade of this century and gradual decline thereafter culminated in a watershed moment on December 29 with the signing of the tripartite memorandum of settlement (MOS) by the Governments of India and Assam and ULFA (Pro-talk) faction.

It is an eloquent testimony to the success of the carrot-and-stick policy of conflict resolution. Though people may be speculating about the success of the MOS, one should keep in mind the famous quote “I can respect different opinions because everybody has a story” as the Pro-Talk leaders of ULFA have their own story to tell initiated way back in 2011.

The salient features of the MOS involve Political Demands, ST Status for communities, Reservation in Education/Employment, NRC/Illegal Immigration, Land/Forest, Tea Gardens, Identity, Culture, Heritage, Planned Development, Special Development Packages, etc. However, this write-up seeks to emphasise on Rehabilitation and Resettlement of the armed cadres something that often got neglected in most of the earlier similar settlements with different rebel groups of the North-East. This has resulted in sporadic cases of extortion, dacoity, and other anti-social activities where former members of militant groups were key suspects.

For the Rehabilitation and Resettlement of the Armed Cadres, the following clauses need to be kept in mind:

• A Committee headed by the Additional DG, Special Branch, Assam under the supervision of the Secretary Home & Political Department, should be set up to assess the rehabilitation needs of individual cadres.
• Necessary measures should be taken by the central and state governments to rehabilitate the members of ULFA.
• Efforts should be made to cover the members of ULFA under various ongoing Central/State Government schemes for employment generation and other benefits
• The  MOS also dwells on projects to be undertaken by the state government including one under head Energy as “Development of 3000 MW Solar power projects in Assam”.

The Ministry of Home Affairs has been implementing a scheme for Surrender-cum-Rehabilitation of insurgents in North East since 1998. It also seeks to ensure that surrendered insurgents do not feel it lucrative to rejoin the insurgency. The scheme was revised in 2018 for six NE States - Assam, Tripura, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Manipur and Arunachal Pradesh. However, the pecuniary benefits provided to the cadres under the policy are frittered away by the beneficiaries as per the Russian proverb “Spending is quick; earning is slow.”

It is important to set up a Joint Monitoring Committee under clause 12 of the accord with representatives of the Government of India (MHA), Chief Secretary/DGP of Govt. of Assam and ULFA should specifically evaluate the performance of District Commissioners and Superintendent of Police, in whose jurisdiction the Pro-Talk ULFA cadres reside.

This should take into account successful rehabilitation of the cadres and it should be reflected in their Annual Performance Appraisal Report. Only such a focussed initiative would goad officers to make efforts for successful returns of the armed cadres to the mainstream.

Assam Government should undertake new and renewable projects, for example, “Development of 3000 MW Solar power projects in Assam” as enshrined in Annexuire-II of the accord. This will also align with New Delhi’s target of achieving annual solar capacity additions by 36 percent every year to meet its 2027 target. The Pro-Talk ULFA cadres may be engaged fruitfully for the upkeep of the solar plants constructed in different villages in Assam and this will be a sustainable endeavour in the long run.

Another point to note here is that the demographic dividend of India in general and Assam, in particular, is positive at the moment and is expected to grow continuously for three more decades. Under these circumstances, it is high time for all conscious citizens to ponder over certain provisions of the Accord in that light and see how we can progress on these aspects and make Assam a progressive state enhancing its position in South East Asia.

Even the Head of ULFA Paresh Baruah during his interaction with media persons highlighted the importance of rehabilitation and resettlement of the cadres who picked guns in the “interest of their motherland’ though their method was outside the purview of India’s sovereignty and the Constitution.

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Assam Skill Development Mission should go to the panchayats, and train the unemployed youths in a timebound manner so that they earn their livelihood and don't feel like returning to the insurgent groups. The Government of Assam should also activate the Skill University which is headed by an active Vice Chancellor giving him all wherewithal to take the challenge on a mission mode.

The author is the former DG of Assam Police and Chairman Assam Public Service Commission