KOKRAJHAR, AUG 18: The All Bodo Students’ Union (ABSU) has slammed the government of Assam for failing to properly implement the provisions and clauses of the Bodoland Territorial Region (BTR) Peace Accord signed on 27th January (2020).
Addressing the press conference held at the Bodofa House, Baganshali in Kokrajhar on Sunday, ABSU president Dipen Boro raised this concern,and wish
He said that the 60 new villages have recently been included in the BTR, a staggering 664 villages are still awaiting inclusion, despite being part of the agreement. He has called for the immediate delimitation and inclusion of these villages in accordance with the BTR Accord.
Boro specifically highlighted Clause 5.1 of the Accord, which pertains to the delimitation and inclusion of Bodo-dominated areas outside the BTR and the formation of the Boro-Kachari Welfare and Development Council (Autonomous). He has emphasized the need to conduct elections and establish 36 constituencies within this council.
Expressing dissatisfaction, ABSU president criticized the government’s approach to a recent meeting held on February 28th. The meeting, chaired by Assam cabinet minister Ranoj Pegu and attended by leaders from the Boro-Kachari Welfare and Development Council (Autonomous), did not include invitations to the ABSU and the United Bodo People’s Organization (UBPO), both of whom are signatories of the BTR Accord.
Notably, the Chief Executive Member of Bodoland Territorial Region, Pramod Boro and cabinet minister, Urkhao Gwra Brahma were absent from the meeting, although their signatures were recorded on the meeting’s decisions.
During the meeting, discussions were centered around 31 constituencies, but ABSU has maintained that there should be 36 constituencies, particularly emphasizing the inclusion of Bodo-dominated villages from South Kamrup and Goalpara in the Boro-Kachari Welfare and Development Council (Autonomous).
Boro, further pointed out that, while 10 colleges have been provincialized as per Clause 6.3 of the historic BTR Peace Accord, there remain 16 colleges, higher secondary schools, high schools, middle English schools, and primary schools that have yet to be provincialized. ABSU has called for the immediate provincialization of these institutions to avoid further disruptions to the educational environment, which has already been affected by the ongoing “pen down” agitation by the unprovincialized schools in the BTR area.
The ABSU president,Boro reiterated its demand for the full and prompt implementation of the clauses of the BTR accord to ensure that the intended benefits reach the Bodo people.
