Assam forms united platform of 10 Autonomous Councils to strengthen grassroots democracy

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaJanuary 31, 2025

Assam Legislative Assembly Speaker Biswajit Daimary on Thursday spearheaded the formation of the All Assam Presiding Officers Committee (AAPOC), a landmark initiative aimed at extending parliamentary democracy from the Assembly to the council level.

The committee brings together representatives from 10 autonomous councils, including three from Sixth Schedule areas, to enhance governance and legislative effectiveness.

A crucial meeting was held at the Assam Legislative Assembly, where chairpersons from the Bodoland Territorial Council Legislative Assembly (BTCLA), North Cachar Hills Autonomous Council (NCHAC), Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council (KAAC), and seven other autonomous councils participated. These include the Rabha Hasong Autonomous Council (RHAC), Mising Autonomous Council (MAC), Tiwa Autonomous Council (TAC), Deori Autonomous Council (DAC), Sonowal Kachari Autonomous Council (SKAC), Thengal Kachari Autonomous Council (TKAC), Bodo-Kachari Welfare Autonomous Council (BKWAC), Kamatapur Autonomous Council (KAC), Moran Autonomous Council, and Matak Autonomous Council (MAC).

The primary objective of the committee is to serve as a platform for dialogue and collaboration among the councils, addressing governance challenges, legislative improvements, and policy implementation. The committee will deliberate on challenges related to rules, acts, regulations, and laws governing the councils, adoption of best parliamentary practices for effective administration, training and capacity-building for chairpersons and council members and annual conferences and seminars to enhance legislative knowledge and governance standards.

Assam Assembly Speaker Biswajit Daimary will serve as the chairperson of AAPOC, while the presiding officers of all autonomous councils will be part of its standing committee. The Speaker will hold the final decision-making authority in the committee.

Daimary emphasized that the initiative would provide training to at least 10 delegates from each council every year, ensuring that council members are well-equipped to implement parliamentary democratic principles effectively.

The formation of AAPOC marks a significant step towards empowering autonomous councils, fostering legislative excellence, and strengthening grassroots democracy in Assam.