After signing of the Bodo Peace Accord 2020 on Monday, union home minister Amit Shah said the accord has brought a comprehensive and final resolution to the demands raised by the Bodo organizations.
An Accord that is expected to fulfill the dreams and aspirations of the Bodos living in Assam was signed in Delhi among the Centre, Assam government, four factions of NDFB, All Bodo Students’ Union (ABSU) and United Bodo People’s Organization (UBPO).
“In the past, not being satisfied with the settlements of 1993 and 2003, the Bodos have been consistently demanding more powers,” said home minister Amit Shah while addressing the Bodo leaders after the signing of the Accord.
“A comprehensive and final resolution to their demands has been arrived at while retaining the territorial integrity of the state of Assam,” he added.
Stating that around 1,500 cadres of NDFB(P), NDFB(RD) & NDFB(S) will be rehabilitated by the Cente and Assam government, Amit Shah tweeted: “A Special Development Package Rs. 1500 Crore will be given by the Union Government to undertake specific projects for the development of Bodo areas.”
Around 1500 cadres of NDFB(P), NDFB(RD) & NDFB(S) will be rehabilitated by GOI and Assam Govt.
A Special Development Package Rs. 1500 Crore will be given by the Union Government to undertake specific projects for the development of Bodo areas. pic.twitter.com/1d0cc0AtBN
— Amit Shah (@AmitShah) January 27, 2020
Shah also tweeted: “About 4000 people died in the Bodo movement. This historic agreement will usher in a new dawn of peace, progress and prosperity in the state of Assam.”
“I congratulate CM @SarbanandSonwal for his pioneering efforts to make North-East the Ashta Lakshmi of PM Modi Ji’s vision,” he added.
About 4000 people died in the Bodo movement. This historic agreement will usher in a new dawn of peace, progress and prosperity in the state of Assam.
I congratulate CM @SarbanandSonwal for his pioneering efforts to make North-East the Ashta Lakshmi of PM Modi Ji’s vision. pic.twitter.com/ZoSBmxd3PQ
— Amit Shah (@AmitShah) January 27, 2020
The Accord, inked at North Block gives more power to BTC, consists of special provisions for Bodos living outside the BTAD.
There are provisions to protect and preserve the identity, language, and education of Bodos. It also consists of land rights and a special package of Rs 1500 crore for three years.
Also read: Bodo Peace Accord 2020: Journey from Autonomous Council to a Territorial Region
“This Accord will solve the Bodo-non-Bodo issue forever. This will also fulfill the dreams and aspirations of the Bodos,” said Assam minister Hemanta Biswa Sarma.
The Accord aims to augment areas and powers of BTC and streamline its functioning.
To include the Bodo inhabited villages in the existing BTAD, a commission will be appointed by the Assam government soon.
Also read: Bodo Accord 2020: Karbi, Dimasa students oppose ST (Hills) status to Bodos
“The members of the committee will comprise officials from Assam government, leaders from ABSU and BTC as its members…the committee will submit its report within six months from the declaration of the Gazette notification,” Memorandum of Settlement (MoS) said.
As per the Accord, the constituencies of the BTC will be increased up to 60 after alteration in the area.
Also read: Bodo Accord 2020: Accord will lead to full, final solution to decades old issue, says Himanta
BTAD will be renamed as Bodoland Territorial Region (BTR) comprising areas covered under BTAD.
Giving more power to the BTC, the agreement said the BTC principal secretary will have monitoring powers of registration department within BTAD area.
Executive powers of BTC shall be exercised through its Chief Executive Officer (CEO), not below the rank of principal secretary to the government of Assam.
Deputy commissioners and superintendents of police in the BTAD districts will be posted in consultation with the BTC CEO.
Significantly, for the protection of the Bodos living in the Bodo inhabited areas outside BTAD, the Assam government has been asked to set up a Bodo Kachari Welfare Council.
This council will work for the developmental projects of the Bodos living in other areas of Assam.
As per the Accord, the Assam government will notify Bodo language in Devanagari script as an associate official language in the state.
The state government will also establish a separate directorate for the Bodo medium schools in the state.
A new post of DIG will also be created in BTAD apart from the existing IG post.
An administrative staff college will also be established under the BTC administration.
Significantly, criminal cases registered against NDFB militants for non-heinous crimes shall be withdrawn by the government of Assam.
“Criminal cases registered as heinous crimes shall be reviewed by case to case according to the existing policy on the subject,” the Accord said.
A joint monitoring committee consisting of members from home ministry, the government of Assam, BTC and Bodo organisations will be constituted to monitor the implementation of different clauses of the Accord,” the agreement said.