The meeting with different non-tribal organizations who have upped the ante over the recent controversial land rights issue in BTAD concluded on Friday at the BTC Assembly conference hall.
The meeting which was chaired by the BTC Chief, Hagrama Mohilary discussed over the land rights and other developmental aspects.
In Friday’s meeting, the president of All Koch Rajbonshi Students Union (AKRSU) Arun Kr Ray, secretary Gakul Barman, chief convenor of United Organizations’ Coordination Committee (UOCC), Hiteswar Barman, advisor of AKRSU, Pradip Ray, president of AASAA, Stephen Lakra, president Simon Kishku and vice president of Adivasi National Coordination Committee, Simang Soren, general secretary of BTC region Bengali Students Youth Federation and president of Nath Yogi Sanmilon, Prakash Nanda Nath attended the meeting from agitating groups while BTC Chief Hagrama Mohilary, Deputy Chief Kampa Borgoyary, Ems, Doneswar Goyary, Rajib Brahma and Principal Secretary BC Phukan attended the meeting on Council’s behalf.
The leaders of various student organizations demanded that the BTC authority should deliver equal privileges and development to all including land and political rights. They deliberated on their problems among the respective communities.
The representatives from the AKRSU said that the council should look in to their political rights and give the advantage equally.
Since there is no probable council assembly seat for Koch-Rajbongshi to win the council election, the leader of AKRSU said Mohilary should ensure space for them.
In reply, Mohilary said he will look into the matter and said that he will send proposal for increasing council assembly seats from existing 40 to 50 to include providing more space for Koch-Rajbongshi and other protected communities to Election Commission of India (ECI) as the constituency in BTC is not matching with the population pattern and more constituency could be created.
He called upon all to extend support to the proposal. On the demand of inclusion of protected communities in the developmental committees, Mohilary said there were 415 Village Council Development Committee (VCDC) alternatives to Panchayati Raj, and added to include more chairmen.
He also assured to take up the issue for increasing the committee. On the demand of arranging tripartite talk for inclusion of six communities in ST list, Mohilary said he will take the view of the expert committee whether there is feasibility for inclusion of these communities and will take necessary initiatives as he has no objection on it.
In the meeting, Mohilary removed the doubt over the land rights issue of protected class of people of the region saying that there was nothing to worry for the people who have been within the council. He said no one could settle in the GRF, VGR, forest land and government khas land as per land act.
He also said at least 100 mandals have been given training in BTC and they will carry out the land survey in BTC.
He also assured that he will earmark budget for construction of hostel for all communities at Kokrajhar to accommodate the students in pursuing education in the town.
Observing the ongoing annual examinations of the students, he called upon all organizations to call off the bandh.