HT Bureau
DIPHU, Sept 8: One year has passed since the signing of peace pact by the six armed organisations with the State and Central Government, but the rehabilitation package of skill development training for the ex-armed cadres is yet to begin.
The six armed organisations viz. Karbi Longri & NC Hills Liberation Front (KLNLF), United People’s Liberation Army (UPLA), People’s Democratic Council of Karbi Longri (PDCK), Karbi Peopple’s Liberation Tigers (KPLT) Run Rongpi faction, KPLT – ceasefire and KPLT – Mensing Kramsa, on September 4, 2021 has signed a tripartite agreement with the Government of Assam and India. The MoS includes both development and rehabilitation packages.
On September 4, 2022 under the banner of Karbi Ex-Revolutionary United Forum (KERUF) celebrated the one year completion of the signing of MoS.
Talking to The Hills Times, the former publicity secretary of the disbanded armed organisation KLNLF and now spokesperson of KERUF, Rijak Dera said, “In 4.4 clause of MoS, clearly the Government of India, Government of Assam and Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council (KAAC) will take necessary measures to rehabilitate the armed cadres. Government has only provided a lumpsum amount of Rs. 4 lakhs to each of the 2026 ex-armed cadres as part of the rehabilitation package.”
He further said, “Under the rehabilitation package there is skill development training on piggery, fishery, poultry, organic farming, agro based industry, trade, vocational and skill development training and recruitment in appropriate jobs. But the Government is yet to conduct such skill development training to the ex-armed cadres.”
Dera said unlike the MoS, 2011, the MoS 2021 has involvement of the Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council (KAAC). As the CEM, KAAC, Tuliram Ronghang is also a signatory, so it is not only the State and Central Government, but the KAAC also has the responsibility for rehabilitation of the armed cadres. By conducting the skill development training by the Government the ex-armed cadres can start their own activities.
He also said for early implementation of MoS, 2021 and rehabilitation to ex-armed cadres the KAAC authority can pursue with the State and Central Government. As an MP is an elected representative he can raise the issue in Parliament. There are four MLAs from Karbi Anglong and West Karbi Anglong who can raise voice in the State Assembly for rehabilitation special packages for the welfare of the armed cadres.
In recent developments, armed persons have been arrested from newly formed armed organisations like Karbi United Liberation Army (KULA) and National Socialist Council of Karbi Anglong (NSCKA). The KERUF spokesperson said these are the involvement of anti-social elements.
Dera said the armed movement in Karbi Anglong has started since 1994. There is armed movement by Bodo Liberation Tigers, United People’s Democratic Solidarity, Dima Halam Daoga (Nunisa) and DHD (Jowel Garlosa), National Democratic Front of Bodoland, KLNLF, United People’s Liberation Army, People’s Democratic Council of Karbi Longri, Karbi People’s Liberation Tigers (KPLT) Run Rongpi faction, KPLT – ceasefire and KPLT – Mensing Kramsa. There are more than a thousand of ex-armed cadres and for them a proper security for life (employment) or rehabilitation should be guaranteed.
Dera informed that they have been invited for a discussion during the Review Meeting for MoS implementation on September 12. He hopes to rise their problems in the meeting.
He said till now none of the ex-armed cadres of the six disbanded armed organisations are involved in any anti-social activity.
