Conflict resolution framework

The signing of an agreement by the Central and the State Government with eight Adivasi groups, facilitating the return of 1,182 cadres of the militant outfits, marks a new milestone in conflict resolution in Assam. The agreement provides for the establishment of an Adivasi Welfare and Development Council with a view to ensure speedy and focused development of tea gardens and measures for rehabilitation and resettlement of armed cadres and welfare of tea garden workers. A special development package of Rs 1,000 crore (Rs 500 crore each by Government of India and Government of Assam) will be provided over a period of five years for infrastructure development in villages or areas with Adivasi population. Judicious utilization of the amount will be critical to ensure speedy progress of Adivasi community, lack of which was one of the key factors behind some among them taking to arms but later realising the futility of violence. Ensuring that schemes, programmes and activities taken up by the proposed development council do not overlap with those implemented by various departments will help the council play a crucial role in uplift of the downtrodden Advasi community and tea garden workers, left behind the curve of progress. This will require a meticulous planning process and the proposed council in collaboration with the Central and the state government taking help from development strategists, economists and other experts in various fields. The satellite nature of the proposed council will facilitate jurisdiction of the council across the state and focussed attention on various development activities. Prioritizing education, health and skill development will accelerate the pace of inclusive growth in the state. Lessons learnt from failure of existing development councils for different communities achieving the desired outcomes, despite allocation of funds for undertaking development work, can be useful in drawing up plans and programmes. Capacity building of council functionaries in development planning, regular auditing, importance of timely submission of utilization certificates for steady and smooth flow of funds can go a long way in making the proposed council a role model for all development councils in the state. The agreement also states that it is the responsibility of the Central and the state government to fulfil the political, economic and educational aspirations of Adivasi groups and provisions have been made to protect and strengthen the social, cultural, ethnic and linguistic identity of Adivasi groups. The Adivasi groups raised the demand for inclusion of their community in the list of Scheduled Tribes and autonomy, but settled for the development council and the financial package. The Central and the state government ensuring successful running of the development council will prevent political and identity issues overshadowing the development issues. The angry outburst of organizations of six communities – Tai Ahom, Koch-Rajbongshi, Moran, Matak, Chutiya and Tea Tribes - for non-finalisation of modalities for their inclusion in the list of Scheduled Tribes (ST) after the Union Cabinet gave approval to notify several communities in five states – Chhattisgarh, Karnataka, Himachal Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Uttar Pradesh - explain the complexities of identity issues around the ST demand. The protest is likely to grow, and pressure will be mounting on the Central and the state government in the coming days for necessary constitutional amendment to expand the ST list in Assam. The Union Cabinet approved the inclusion of the six communities in the ST list and a Bill was also tabled in the Rajya Sabha in 2019, but finalization of modalities by the state government has been delayed due to apprehension by existing ST communities of losing their political and socio-economic rights. The state government is wary of exposing the ethnic fault lines without a consensus among all communities, which explains the delay. Such complexities also raise the pertinent question as to how pragmatic is the idea of addressing the issues of backwardness, preservation of language and culture on ethnic lines in a multi-ethnic state like Assam. Inclusive development that also protects the linguistic and cultural identities of every community will lead to aspirations for faster progress becoming a priority over competing identity issues, sustain peace initiatives and make conflict resolution much easier. Competing identity movements on ethnic lines in the state has overshadowed a larger existential threat to all indigenous communities on account of unabated infiltration from across the India-Bangladesh border. Prioritizing constitutional safeguards in the form of reservation of seats in the state Assembly, Parliament, local bodies and strong land laws to protect land rights of indigenous communities are the call of the hour. Sustained dialogue will help defuse the situation and expedite the process of consensus in which community leaders can play the most crucial role to create a conducive atmosphere. There is no alternative to the process of consultation for conflict resolution and communities taking part in it with an idea of sharing socio-political and cultural space with each other and marching ahead together.