Time-bound implementation of all clauses of BTR Accord demanded

Signatory organizations hold meeting with Union Government

A CORRESPONDENT

LAKHIMPUR: The signatory organizations have demanded the Union Government to implement the clauses of the Bodo Territorial Region Accord (BTR Accord), also known as Bodo Peace Accord, in a time-bound manner.

The dignitaries of the signatory organizations, viz- All Bodo Students' Union (ABSU), United Bodo People's Organization (UBPO), four fractions of the National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB) raised the demand while holding a meeting with Piyush Goyal, the Additional Secretary (NE), Ministry of Home Affairs, on Wednesday evening.

The meeting was organized at North Block in New Delhi wherein detailed discussion was held regarding the implementation of the tripartite BTR Accord, which was signed on January 27 in 2020 with the Government of India, Government of Assam and the Bodoland movement organizations. The meeting was attended by Bodo Peace Accord mediator AK Mishra, Assam Chief Secretary Pavan Kumar Borthakur, Home Secretary Niraj Verma, ADGP Hiren Chandra Nath, BTAD Chief Secretary Anurag Goel, Secretary Naren Chandra Basumatary. On the other hand, ABSU president Dwipen Boro, vice-president Khwromdao Owari, adviser Kusum Kumar Swargiyari, BKWAC Chief Mihiniswar Basumatary, Deputy Chief Romeo Narzary, UBPO president Manuranjan Basumatary, general secretary Pitambar Brahma, EX-NDFB leader Shila Basumatary, Saikhong Basumatary, Abhiram Basumatary were present in the meeting representing the signatory organizations. BTAD Chief Pramod Boro, Deputy Chief Gobinda Basumatary, Rajya Sabha MP Rwngwra Narzary, EM Ranjit Basumatary, MLA Lorenc Islary were also present in the meeting.

While explaining details about the meeting, UBPO president Manoranjan Basumatary informed this correspondent that most of the major clauses of the Memorandum of the Settlement (MoS) of the Bodo Peace Accord have to be implement till date, though a period of two-and-half years, from the inking of the Accord, have already elapsed. The organizations expressed optimism that all the clauses of the MoS would be implemented in letter and spirit.

The UBPO president further informed that detailed discussion in the meeting was held over provincialization of the non-provincialized Bodo medium schools and colleges outside BTAD as per Para 6.3 of the MoS, time-bound implementation of the clauses of the MoS regarding inclusion of Bodo inhabited villages and areas under Sonitpur, Biswanath and partial of Lakhimpur district, including 95 disputed villages in BTR or Bodo-Kachari Welfare Autonomous Council (BKWAC), inclusion of Bodo-Kachari people living in Karbi Anglong and Dima Hasao districts in the ST (Hill) list as per Para 8 of the BTC Accord and 6.1 of the BTR Accord, implementation of the Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006 to confer rights to tribals living in the forest areas outside BTAD, conduct of election for BKWAC by forming its constituencies and notifying the Bodo villages under them, grant of special packages to the BKWAC from Union Government, rehabilitation of all the members of the four factions of NDFB under the scheme of central policy of rehabilitation, conduct of special direct recruitment drive for the Bodo youths with special consideration and exemption etc. The meeting was fruitful, UBPO president Manuranjan Basumatary added.

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