BTC Council Clears Rs 1800 Crore Budget for Development of BTR

Kokrajhar: The Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC) has approved a budget of Rs 1800 crore to be spent till March 31, 2021, on pending developmental work for the development of areas under Bodoland Territorial Region (BTR) which covers four districts of Assam – Baksa, Udalguri, Chirang and Kokrajhar with a population of over 35 lakh.

The amount was approved in the first Budget session of Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC) after it was elected in December last year.

The BTC budget session was held at Bodoland Territorial Council Legislative Assembly hall, at Bodofa Nwgwr in Kokrajhar, Assam on Friday.

Notably, this is the first budget session of Pramod Boro led United People's Party Liberal (UPPL), Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Gana Suraksha Party (GSP) comprises coalition government in Bodoland Territorial Region (BTR) after signing the Bodo peace Accord on January 27, 2020.

The budget proposals, as well as the rehabilitation of surrendered of The National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB) cadre, was discussed at length during the session. The issue of rehabilitation of surrendered NDFB members was raised by former NDFB leader Sanjay Swargiary.

Responding to the issue, Deputy Chief Executive Member of BTC and former NDFB (S) chief Gobinda Chandra Basumatary said that the Centre would be giving them Rs 4 lakh each and another Rs 2 lakh would come from the Assam government to ensure proper rehabilitation of the surrendered NDFB cadre.

All those NDFB cadres who were killed would be given a financial aid of Rs 5 lakh each by the Assam government. Moreover, employment opportunities would be offered to the surrendered NDFB cadres and Bodo youth in CRPF, CISF and such other security and paramilitary forces, Basumatary informed the House.

A decision is expected during the visit of Union Home Minister Amit Shah scheduled for January 24 to Kokrajhar regarding all those still in jail and regarding cases pending against many leaders and cadres of NDFB. The issue of release of 25 former NDFB members lodged in Bhutan jail was also mentioned in the House by Deputy Chief Basumatary.

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