Assam: Inclusion-exclusion of villages in Bodoland Territorial Region soon

 STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI: The much-awaited alteration related to the inclusion and exclusion of Bodo and non-Bodo villages in the Bodoland Territorial Region (BTR) is now set to be resolved soon.

There was a tussle going on between the state government and the Obodo Suraksha Samiti (OSS) regarding the inclusion of non-Bodo population-dominated villages within the BTR area. The latter has now communicated its willingness to negotiate on the issue, with the intention to pave the way for a permanent solution.

In January 2020, a tripartite memorandum of settlement (MoS) was signed by the central and state governments with Bodo organizations, which led to the formation of BTR. According to the MoS, villages contiguous to BTR with a Bodo population of more than 50% could apply to be included within its boundary, while villages within BTR that are contiguous with the boundary and have a non-Bodo population of more than 50% were allowed to apply for exclusion from the BTR.

To settle the issue, a five-member commission headed by former senior bureaucrat of the state government, late PP Verma, was formed in September 2020. The Commission received applications for the exclusion of 1232 non-Bodo-dominated villages from BTR. The Obodo Suraksha Samiti was the primary organization leading the move to get the non-Bodo villages excluded, while this was opposed by Bodo groups. With both sides not yielding to their respective demands, a stalemate resulted.

Sources connected with the issue said, "After several rounds of talks between the commission and the OSS, the latter has realized that there are some ground realities that do not allow some of the non-Bodo villages to be summarily excluded from the BTR. Therefore, the OSS is now ready to accede to the exclusion of around 50% of the villages demanded earlier. However, the organization is not willing to compromise on the issue of excluding the non-Bodo villages located in the bordering areas of BTR."

After the death of PP Verma, senior bureaucrat Ashish Kumar Bhutani headed the commission. Sources in the know stated, "Members of OSS met with Bhutani last month, and he assured the delegation that the whole imbroglio will be settled within two to three months."

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