Budget earmarks 500cr first tranche of 5,000cr Ulfa deal

GUWAHATI: Union concern curate Nirmala Sitharaman unveiled successful Union Budget a Rs 500-crore peculiar improvement bundle for projects projected by United Liberation Front of Assam (Ulfa) — the archetypal tranche of a Rs 5,000-crore money to beryllium disbursed implicit 5 years nether a 2023 bid accord betwixt Centre, Assam govt and the militant outfit.

Ulfa wide caput Anup Chetia welcomed the move, calling it a affirmative archetypal measurement successful implementing the accord.Ulfa has submitted a database of 36 projects, spanning education, transport infrastructure, sports, wetlands and initiatives nether Centre’s Act East policy. The proposals see making Assam a greenish vigor hub, establishing an IISER, and mounting up an IIM successful Guwahati, with the past 1 already underway.

The bid pact was signed connected Dec 29, 2023 with Centre and authorities agreeing to allocate matching funds fordevelopment. Over 9,000 Ulfa cadre person since surrendered and Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act has been withdrawn from 85% of Assam.One faction — Ulfa (Independent) — remains extracurricular the settlement.The Ulfa bundle underscores New Delhi’s bid to fastener successful bid dividends done improvement spending aft decades of insurgency. It is portion of 7 peculiar packages worthy Rs 1,046 crore announced for the Northeast, including Rs 156 crore for Bodoland Territorial Council, Rs 200 crore for Karbi Anglong Autonomous Territorial Council, Rs 100 crore for Dima Hasao Autonomous Territorial Council, Rs 70 crore for Dimasa people, Rs 50 crore for the tribal colonisation of Tripura and Rs 70 crore for Adivasi groups.