(a) whether any MoU was signed with the Autonomous State Demand Committee, Karbi Students Association and Dinasa Students Union who are demanding implementation of Article 244(A) of the Constitution in Assam;
(b) if so, the present status, of the said MoU; and
(c) the time by which the said MoU is likely to be implemented?
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS (I.D. SWAMI)
(a) to (c): Yes, Sir. A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed at New Delhi on 1.4.1995 between the Chief Minister of Assam and representative organizations of the Karbi Anglong and North Cachar Hills Districts, namely Autonomous State Demand Committee (ASDC), Karbi Students` Association (KSA), North Cachar Hills Students` Federation (NCHSF) and Dimasa Students` Union (DSU) in the presence of the then Union Home Minister, to give greater autonomy to the Autonomous District Councils.
As a result of this MoU, the Autonomous District Councils have been renamed as Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council and North Cachar Hills Autonomous Council by dropping the word `District` from their names. 28 out of 30 Subjects/ Departments, to be transferred to the two Autonomous Councils as per the MoU, have already been transferred by the State Government. Only two Subjects/Departments, namely Transport and Sales Tax, have not been transferred as yet due to legal difficulties. The State Government has been advised to sort out the problem in consultation with the Autonomous Councils. The official representatives of the Autonomous Council are now being included in the delegations visiting Delhi for Plan discussions with the Planning Commission.
The implementation of the MoU is being followed up periodically with the representatives of the State Government and the Autonomous Councils. The Government of India is committed to the all round development of the areas of the Autonomous Councils.