• The Centre signed an agreement with eight tribal militant organisations based in Assam to bring a lasting peace in some areas of the state.

• The agreement was signed to end decades-old crisis of Adivasis and tea garden workers in Assam.

• The tripartite agreement among the central and state governments and the eight groups, including All Adivasi National Liberation Army, Adivasi Cobra Militant of Assam, Birsa Commando Force, Santhal Tiger Force, and Adivasi People’s Army, was signed in New Delhi in presence of Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma among others.

• Except the hardline faction of the banned ULFA, led by Paresh Baruah, and the Kamtapur Liberation Organisation, all other rebel groups active in the state have entered into peace agreements with the government.

• In January, all cadres belonging to the Tiwa Liberation Army and the United Gorkha People’s Organisations surrendered with arms and ammunition.

• In August, the Kuki Tribal Union militants laid down their arms.

• In December 2020, around 4,100 cadres belonging to all factions of the Bodo militant group NDFB had surrendered their arms before the authorities. 

Insurgency in Northeast Region

India’s Northeast Region stretches from the foothills of the Himalayas in the eastern range and is surrounded by countries like Bangladesh, Bhutan, China, Nepal and Myanmar. 

It includes Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Tripura and Sikkim. 

The region is rich in natural resources, covered with dense forests, has the highest rainfall in the country, with large and small river systems nesting the land and is a treasure house of flora and fauna.

The quest for ethnic and regional identity, nationalism, and ideological motivations have fomented a climate of insurgency in several parts of the Northeast Region, which has led to political fragmentation of the region. The climate has been further fuelled by the slow pace of development. The difficult terrain, dense forest cover and open borders with Myanmar and Bangladesh have provided a congenial environment for this.

Insurgency has taken a heavy toll on economic progress in the region. 

Initiatives for peace process

The government has shown its willingness to enter into dialogue with any group, which is willing to abjure the path of violence and place its demand within the framework of the Constitution of India. 

Pursuant to the above policy of the government, a number of outfits have come for talks with the government for resolution to their grievances and a number of cadres of insurgents have surrendered with weapons.

1) Scheme for Surrender-cum-Rehabilitation of militants in North East

The ministry of home affairs has been implementing a scheme for Surrender-cum-Rehabilitation of militants in Northeast to wean away the misguided youth and hardcore militants who stray into the fold of militancy and later find themselves trapped into that net.

The scheme also seeks to ensure that the militants, who have surrendered, do not find it attractive to join militancy again.

The scheme provides for:

• An immediate grant of Rs 1.5 lakh to each surrenderee.

• Payment of stipend of Rs 3,500 per month to each surrenderee for a period of one year.

• Vocational training to the surrenderees for self-employment.

2) Reimbursement of Security Related Expenditure (SRE)

The central government has been implementing a non-plan scheme for reimbursement of Security Related Expenditure (SRE) for the states seriously affected by militancy/insurgency.

The scheme is being implemented in all states of the region except Mizoram and Sikkim. 

Under it, the expenditure incurred by them on various items, is being reimbursed. It includes:

• Raising of India Reserve Battalions.

• Logistics provided to the CAPFs/Army deployed in the state.

• Ex-gratia grant and gratuitous relief to the victims of extremist violence.

• 75% of the expenditure incurred on POL (petrol, oil and lubricants) in operations and honorarium.

• Payment to Village Guards/Village Defence Committees/Home Guards deployed for security purposes,

• Expenditure incurred on maintenance of designated camps set up for groups with whom the central government/state governments have entered into agreement for suspension of operations.

3) Civic Action Programme in the North Eastern States

In order to take the local populace in confidence and boost the image of armed forces among the common people, Army and Central Armed Police Forces conduct Civic Action Programme.

Under this programme, various welfare/developmental activities are undertaken like holding of medical camps, sanitation drives, sports meets, distribution of study material to children, minor repairs of school buildings, roads, bridges and running adult education centers, etc.

4) Advertisement and Publicity

Keeping in view of the issues like militancy, infiltration and perceived feeling of alienation, ministry of home affairs implements a scheme of Advertisement and Publicity in North Eastern States with a view to highlight the activities being undertaken by the government for peace in the region and also with a view to convey that “peace pays”.

5) Modernisation of Police Force

The home ministry is implementing a non-plan scheme, namely Scheme for Modernisation of State Police Forces (MPF) towards modernisation of the state police forces, especially for meeting the emerging challenges to internal security in the form of terrorism, naxalism etc. All major items of Police infrastructure have been included under the scheme like construction of secure police stations, outposts, police lines, mobility, modern weaponry, security, surveillance, communication, forensic equipment, upgradation of training infrastructure, police housing, computerisation, etc.

6) Helicopter Services in North Eastern States

At present, the helicopter services are in operation in the states of Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim, Meghalaya, Nagaland and Tripura with subsidy from the ministry of home affairs. The subsidy portion is limited to 75 per cent cost of operation of helicopter service minus recovery from passengers. The balance cost of operation of the helicopter service is met by concerned state governments.

Additional read:

Major agreements in the northeast region

The northeast region holds an important position from a strategic point of view as these states share their borders with other countries like Bangladesh, Bhutan, Myanmar and China. Recently, the Centre has signed several agreements to end extremism and bring lasting peace in northeast states.

Manorama Yearbook app is now available on Google Play Store and iOS App Store