Assam Government Signs Agreements for Kuki and Hmar Community Development
Agreements Signed for Community Welfare
Guwahati, March 15: In a significant step towards establishing welfare and development councils for the Kuki and Hmar communities in Assam, the state government finalized Memoranda of Settlement (MoS) with armed groups representing these communities on Sunday.
The agreements were executed in Dispur, with Education Minister Ranoj Pegu present, and they outline the creation of the Kuki Welfare and Development Council (KWDC) and the Hmar Welfare Development Council (HWDC) in regions predominantly inhabited by these groups.
Official sources indicate that each council will be composed of a Chairman, Deputy Chairman, Chief Executive Member, Executive Members, General Members, and additional members appointed by the Assam government, with both councils' headquarters set to be located in Guwahati.
“Budget allocations will be made for both councils, which will draft development proposals based on their needs and submit them to the Transformation and Development Department for state government approval,” the statement noted.
The armed factions involved in the MoS include Kuki groups such as the United Kukigam Defence Army (UKDA), Kuki Revolutionary Army (KRA), and Kuki Liberation Organization / Kuki Liberation Army (KLO/KLA), along with the Hmar group Hmar Peoples' Convention (Democratic) (HPC-D).
The MoS also outlines various initiatives aimed at fostering development in areas populated by Kuki and Hmar communities.
“The MoS features a representative list of schemes designed to ensure rapid and targeted development in Kuki and Hmar regions of Assam while safeguarding their social, cultural, linguistic, and ethnic identities,” the statement added.
The state government will also implement rehabilitation programs for members of the armed groups according to established protocols.
“Families of those who lost their lives during the armed conflict will receive financial compensation from the Government of Assam,” the statement further mentioned.
All four groups had previously surrendered their arms in 2012 in the presence of the then Union Home Minister and the Chief Minister of Assam, leading to the signing of Suspension of Operations (SoO) agreements with the state government to address their longstanding grievances through dialogue.
“As part of this initiative, multiple rounds of tripartite discussions were conducted following the SoO agreements. The current government has expedited the signing of the MoS as a peace initiative to meet the aspirations of both communities,” the release stated.
Officials noted that in recent years, both the Government of India and the Government of Assam have entered into MoS with various armed groups.
“In recent years, the Government of India and the Government of Assam have signed MoS with Bodo groups, Karbi groups, Adivasi groups, DNLA group, and ULFA group, successfully rehabilitating over 9,000 cadres,” the release detailed.
More than 9,000 members have been integrated into society through these peace efforts, with the groups surrendering 1,012 firearms, 25,488 rounds of ammunition, and 34 grenades before reintegrating into the mainstream.
“With the signing of the MoS for the Kuki and Hmar groups, ethnic militancy in Assam is effectively concluded,” the release stated, emphasizing that the government will take necessary measures to rehabilitate the cadres and promote development in their regions.
The agreements were signed on behalf of the state government by Ajay Tewari, Additional Chief Secretary of the Home and Political Department.
This initiative follows the Assam Assembly's passage of a bill to establish the Karbi Welfare Autonomous Council in November 2025, aimed at protecting the interests of Karbi individuals residing outside the jurisdiction of the Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council.
The bill, introduced by Ranoj Pegu, seeks to create an institutional framework for welfare programs and representation for Karbi communities beyond their traditional autonomous territories.