National, Feb 2: The Union Budget 2026–27 has earmarked Rs 500 crore as a special package for the United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) groups, with the allocation aimed largely at the rehabilitation of surrendered cadres and their gradual reintegration into mainstream society. The provision has been made under the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER), as outlined in the budget documents tabled in Parliament.
The funding flows from the landmark Memorandum of Settlement signed on December 29, 2023, involving the Centre, the Assam government and the pro-talks faction of ULFA led by Arabinda Rajkhowa. The agreement, finalised in the presence of Union Home Minister Amit Shah, was seen as a major breakthrough in addressing Assam’s decades-old insurgency, placing emphasis on rehabilitation, economic assistance and sustained peace in the region.
In a broader signal of the Centre’s intensified focus on the Northeast, the DoNER Ministry has been allocated Rs 6,812.3 crore for the 2026–27 financial year. This marks a sharp rise from the revised estimate of Rs 4,479.2 crore in the previous year. Key components include Rs 2,500 crore for the North East Special Infrastructure Development Scheme, Rs 2,300 crore for the Prime Minister’s Development Initiative for North East Region (PM-DevINE), and Rs 825 crore for various programmes under the North East Council.
The Budget has also announced several targeted allocations for Assam. These include Rs 200 crore as a special development package for Karbi Anglong, Rs 156 crore for the Bodoland Territorial Council, and Rs 70 crore each for initiatives focused on the Adivasi communities and the Dimasa people. Together, these provisions reflect a strategy that combines development spending with peace-building measures in areas affected by ethnic tensions and past insurgency.
With the dedicated ULFA rehabilitation package and enhanced regional funding, the 2026–27 Budget underscores the Centre’s intent to consolidate peace gains, support former insurgents in rebuilding their lives, and accelerate inclusive development across the Northeastern states.
