Staff Reporter
Guwahati: The elected representatives of the autonomous councils in Assam on Thursday constituted a committee named the All Assam Presiding Officers' Committee (AAPOC) in which all the autonomous councils of Assam, including those under the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution of India, will be represented.
The committee was formed during a standing committee meeting held at the All Assam Presiding Officers' Conference in the Assam Legislative Assembly.
At the end of the conference, Assembly Speaker and Chairperson of AAPOC, Biswajit Daimary, outlined the aims and objectives of the newly-formed committee, saying, "The aims and objectives of the committee are to discuss and deliberate on the problems and issues arising in the functioning of the Councils from time to time with regards to the Acts, Rules, Regulations, Laws, Bye-Laws, etc., and to serve as a forum for mutual exchange of information and experience so as to empower the Councils for the effective discharge of their duties and functions. The committee will also deliberate on best parliamentary practices, laws, rules, and regulations that can be adopted and implemented by the councils."
The elected representatives of the autonomous councils of Assam, regardless of religion, community, or culture, being unified by the common indigenous interest and respect for the rule of law and law-making procedures and in pursuit of the principles of parliamentary democracy, established AAPOC.
The committee aims to, among others, arrange Conferences/Seminars annually and workshops, meetings, study/exposure visits, etc from time to time; provide facilities for the exchange of visits between members of the Autonomous Councils of Assam; publish materials relevant to aims and activities of Autonomous Councils, which shall include regular publication of a periodical devoted to the Constitutional, Legislative, Socio-cultural and economic affairs with particular reference to the state of Assam; maintain at the Assam Legislative Assembly, a Centre for the dissemination and exchange of information on Parliamentary Matters and on the evolution of socio-cultural and political history of the Autonomous Councils of Assam including the Sixth Schedule Autonomous Councils; and conduct training programmes to promote best practices on democratic and legislative procedures.
The activities will be organized under the auspices of the Assam Legislative Assembly. The Speaker of the Legislative Assembly will act as the chairperson of the committee.
The newly-formed AAPOC shall include the presiding officers of the autonomous councils in Assam under the Sixth Schedule of the Indian Constitution, including the Bodoland Territorial Council Legislative Assembly, North Cachar Hills Autonomous Council, and Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council.
Moreover, the Presiding Officers of Autonomous Councils of Assam under the State Acts, like the Rabha Hasong, Mising, Tiwa, Deori, Sonowal Kachari, Thengal Kachari, Bodo-Kachari Welfare, Kamatapur, Moran, and Matak Autonomous Councils, are also included in AAPOC.
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