CEM Pramod Boro delivers the concluding words in the Budget Session
KOKRAJHAR,JUNE 19: The House of Bodoland Territorial Council Legislative Assembly (BTCLA) has passed Rs. 2200 crores normal budget of the Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC) which was presented the previous day in the Budget Session by the chief executive member (CEM) of Bodoland Territorial Council, and Finance in-charge, Pramod Boro, on Wednesday.
The session was chaired by Katiram Boro, speaker of the BTC Legislative Assembly, which was started on Tuesday with two-day program scheduled held at the BTCLA House, Bodofa Nwgwr in Kokrajhar.
The voting on demands for grants for the financial year (FY ) 2024-25 during the Budget Session of the government of BTR completed this afternoon here at Kokrajhar- the City of Peace.
Prior to this, CEM of BTR, Pramod Boro responded to the questions from the Opposition on the Rs. 2200.00 Crores Normal Budget of BTC which he had presented on Tuesday.
Addressing the members of the Council Legislative Assembly, CEM Boro said, “When there is peace, beautiful things can be done, and in absence of peace, we, human beings are bound to make mistakes.”
The fact that peace has been replanted in the Bodoland region, after several decades of violence and conflict has enabled the people of BTR( Bodoland Territorial Region) to collectively aspire, dream and work together to make marvelous things, he added.
Boro reiterated that the budget for the year, under the theme— Vibrant BTR Mission 2024-25 was based on people-centric approach that envisaged need-based asset creation, need-based infrastructure development, and need-based scheme and project implementation. For instance, he cited the incomplete Kokrajhar Trade Centre project which was not thought out properly in the beginning. As such it remained incomplete and non-operational with loss of several Crores of money.
“We will not take any step that does not serve a purpose or addresses a need,” he added. In the case of need for producing quality doctors, engineers and quality basic science graduates from the region, Boro said that the Bodoland Science Education programme had roped-in Agastya International Foundation for creating an eco-system in the schools right from elementary level to the Bodofa Super 50 Mission to achieve the goal.
It may be mentioned here that several Executive Members (EMs) and MCLAs put forth their opinions during the second day of the Budget Session.
The Executive Member (EM) for Women and Child Development department, Gautam Das stressed the importance of mission-mode interventions in fulfilling the existing gaps in the service delivery of various sectors. Appreciating the visionary initiatives of CEM Pramod Boro, Das said, “The strategic budgeting of the BTR Government to accommodate a number of gap-filling missions in the Council areas is praiseworthy. Even the Government of India and the Government of Assam have initiated mission-mode programmes in spite of the presence of line department activities.” This, he said, in response to a question posed by Leader of the Opposition, Derhasat Basumatary, who had asked why it was necessary to have missions like Bodoland Child Rights Mission, Bodoland Women Empowerment Mission, etc. and other flagship programmes when there were already departments to carry forward the work.
On the other hand, citing his experiences of having been part of the former Hagrama-led government as well as the present Pramod Boro led UPPL-BJP government, Tourism department Executive Member (EM), Dharma Narayan Das said that the single most important difference between the two was the evidence of goal-oriented government budgeting and administration.The former had largely lacked in this area, while the latter has been found to be working consistently towards that end. “It is the presence of long-term and short-term strategic visioning of Pramod Boro that has led to holistic change and transformation in BTR,” he mentioned in the Assembly. In this regard, MCLA Dipak Mour said that the BTC Budget 2024-25 and the three other budgets preceding it were successful in wiping out communal hatred in the region by addressing the needs and aspirations of all groups and communities of the Bodoland region, in spite of limitations in terms of availability of adequate funds.
Arpana Medhi, a nominated MCLA said that the impact of the subsequent budgets of BTR Government has been tremendous. She shared an anecdote where she came across a person who had questioned her, “Does BTC have a budget session even?” This was the result of the lack of proper budget sessions and debates in the council prior to the three and half years of the present Government.
Deputy Chief Executive Member, Gobinda Chandra Basumatary, EMs Wilson Hasda, Ranjit Basumatary, Sanjit Tanti, Daobaisa Boro and Nilut Swargiary, Pradip Kumar Bayan, Doneswar Goyary, Hemanta Kumar Rabha and Madhab Chandra Chetry were other members of the House that kept speeches prominently.
During his concluding remarks, CEM Boro maintained that ensuring equitable opportunity for all the groups and communities of BTR was the thrust of the vision: Peaceful, Smart and Green Bodoland. He said that all efforts were made to accommodate the hopes and aspirations of the citizens in the budget. Aligning the drive, aspirations and hopes of the people of BTR with the mandate of the state and nation has also been the effort, he said.
“BTR cannot afford to remain aloof while the entire country is marching towards a Visit Bharat under the leadership of Narendra Modi Ji!” he noted.
It may be noted that several major social development missions were passed during the session which are included Vibrant BTR- 100 Days of Action Multi-tier Monthly Meetings & Reporting System, Bodoland Child Rights Mission Empowerment of Differently Abled Persons Programme of BTR, Bodoland Women Empowerment Mission, CEM’s Special Initiative Schemes, Green Bodoland Mission, programme for effective governance of VCDCs and localization of SDGs in BTR.
It may be summed up that there was apparently a great deal of optimism to be seen among the members of the treasury bench as they went about the business of the Budget Session. They deliberations were largely buoyant and hoped for the early and expedited execution of the programmes and projects.
Meanwhile, citizens cutting across the communities have hailed the BTC Budget for the financial year (FY) 2024-25, said that this is a people oriented budget being presented by the CEM,and Finance in-charge, Pramod Boro.They expressed their hopeful that the budget will be benefited for the citizens of the Bodoland region while bringing quality educational environment,green & smart Bodoland environment, social upliftment, establishment of peace and tranquility amongst the citizens in days to come.
