Assam’s Bodo group demands dissolution of interim Bodo Kachari Welfare Autonomous Council

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaMarch 16, 2024

A delegation of the United Bodo People`s Federation (UBPF) on Friday called on Assam Governor Gulab Chand Kataria and urged him to immediately dissolve the interim council of Bodo Kachari Welfare Autonomous Council (BKWAC) and to hold an election to the council.

UBPF, which has been working to unite the Bodo people living in different parts of Assam, India and abroad, for better networking, said the term of the interim council of BKWAC has already expired and the government should dissolve it to hold an election to the council.

In a memorandum to the Governor, UBPF president Gambaru Muchahary, general secretary Babu Boro, vice president Amarendra Narzary and assistant general secretary Rabin Basumatary said: “Dissolve the present interim council of Bodo Kachari Welfare Autonomous Council (BKWAC) as the tenure of interim council has already lapsed more than three years from the date of its constitution as well as for various irregularities and constitute a new interim council till the completion of the election process of BKWAC.”

The interim executive council of BKWAC was formed following notification of the Governor vide No TAD/BC/220/2020/185 on February 17, 2021. The oath of office of the interim council of BKWAC was taken on February 24, 2021.

The BKWAC was created as per the provision of the Third Bodo Peace Accord signed between the Centre, the Assam government, four factions of NDFB and the United Bodo People’s Organisation (UBPO) in New Delhi on January 27, 2020. However, the council has failed to implement any development packages for more than 10 lakh people of the Bodo community living outside the Bodoland Territorial Region (BTR).

“The BKWAC was constituted as per clause 5.1 of the Third Bodo Peace Accord. After the formation of the interim council, the Assam government allocated Rs Rs. 13.5 crores per annum to BKWAC for the three consecutive financial years, 2021-2022, 2022-2023 and 2023-2024 which is not at all sufficient for the development of BKWAC areas with over 10 lakh Bodo Kachari population spreading across 24 districts of Assam,” the memorandum said.

“We demand immediate finalization of the inclusion of Bodo Kachari people inhabited villages under BKWAC including the villages of Sonitpur and Biswanath districts after finalising the village inclusion under BTR, as per the revised list prepared and submitted by UBPF and the issue of gazette notification thereof,” the memorandum stated.

The Bodo group urged the Governor to expedite the process of delimitation and notification of 54 MLC constituencies and 6 nominated MLCs (total of 60 members), instead of 36 MLC constituencies and & 4 nominated MLCs respectively with delimitation of 20 additional constituencies based on population pattern and area coverage and given Sonitpur and Biswanath districts after finalising the inclusion of contiguous villages under BTR.

“We strongly demand that the nomenclature of the BKWAC be changed and renamed as the Bodo Kachari Autonomous Council (BKAC) by amendment to the Bodo Kachari Welfare Autonomous Council Act, 2020, as it was notified earlier in the Bodo Kachari Autonomous Council Act, 2016 passed by the Assam Legislative Assembly on February 18, 2016,” the memorandum also said.

The UBPF urged the Governor to include Bodo Kachari people living in Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council and Dima Hasao Autonomous Council into the ST (Hills) list as Constitutional exigencies which pertains to clause 8 of BTC Accord, 2023.

 The Bodo group also demand fore restoration and preservation of lands under tribal belts and blocks by evicting illegal encroachers/ unauthorized occupants by implementing the Guwahati High Court Order in PIL NO 78/2012 on December 9, 2019, between Pradyut Kr Bora-vs- State of Assam & others.

“Take steps for reclamation and restoration of alienated and encroached lands under tribal belts and blocks and the issue of land pattas to the eligible Bodo and indigenous tribal people by strictly implementing the Chapter X of the Assam Land and Revenue Regulation, 1886 in letter and spirits. Granting of land allotment and settlement with the issue of pattas to the Bodo Kachari and other indigenous people outside tribal belts and blocks, TSP areas, forest areas, VGR and PGR lands as may be eligible, within BKWAC areas and state,” it said.

It also urged the Governor to complete the exercise of granting permanent land settlement pattas to the indigenous Bodo Kachari families living in forest areas, PRF, recognized and unrecognized forest villages under the provisions of the Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006 with immediate effect and conversion of such villages in revenue area villages as per the laid down procedures of the Union government.

“Take steps for the issue of free of cost (FOC) land pattas, allotment and settlement pattas and mutation to all the indigenous and tribal people of Assam including BTR in both rural and urban areas under ongoing Mission Basundhara /Mission Bwiswmuthi,” it also said.

The UBPF further urged the Governor for immediate withdrawal of all Bodoland Movement-related cases both heinous and non-heinous, lying pending against the ex-NDFB, ex-BLT and surrendered cadres as per the clause 9.4 of the Bodo Peace Accord with immediate effect and by granting general amnesty to all the convicted and non convicted leaders and cadres.

“The Union government as well as Assam government should arrange suitable packages for providing complete relief and rehabilitation to the ex-NDFB, ex-BLT cadres and NDFB surrendered militants and victimized family members of Bodoland Movement as per clause 9.2 of the Accord,” the memorandum stated.

The UBPF also urged the Governor to raise of Bodo Regiment with the strength of 10 thousand Bodo youths including the ex-Bodoland Movement cadres as maybe 10 eligible, in the Indian army in line with the Gorkha Regiment, Sikh Regiment etc. to have a stake in the country’s safety and security.