NEW DELHI: The government on Monday signed an accord with one of the dreaded insurgent groups of
Assam -- the
National Democratic Front of Boroland (NDFB) -- providing political and economic bonanza.
The All Bodo Students' Union (ABSU), which has been spearheading a movement for a
Bodoland state was also signatory to the accord.
The tripartite agreement was signed by Assam chief minister
Sarbananda Sonowal, top leadership of the four factions of the NDFB, ABSU, joint secretary in the home ministry Satyendra Garg and Assam chief secretary
Kumar Sanjay Krishna in presence of Union home minister
Amit Shah.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi while lauding the move said that it will usher in a "new dawn of peace, harmony and togetherness!"
"Today is a very special day for India. The Accord with Bodo groups, which has been inked today, will lead to transformative results for the Bodo people. Bodo Accord inked today stands out for many reasons. It successfully brings together the leading stakeholders under one framework. Those who were previously associated with armed resistance groups will now be entering the mainstream and contributing to our nation’s progress," the PM said.
He also said that the accord with Bodo groups will further "protect and popularise" the unique culture of the Bodo people. "They will get access to a wide range of development oriented initiatives. We are committed to doing everything possible to help the Bodo people realise their aspirations," PM Modi wrote on Twitter.
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"It is a historical accord," Union home secretary Ajay Bhalla said and asserted that the pact will bring comprehensive solution to the Bodo issue.
The government, in its statement, said the agreement will bring the armed resistance groups like NDFB - Progressive, NDFB - Ranjan Daimary, NDFB - Saoraigwra and more than 1500 of its armed fighters to the mainstream.
Saying the agreement will "greatly improve" the areas and powers of Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC), along with the protection of social, cultural and linguistic identities of Bodo community, the government also said that a package of Rs 1500 crore over three years will be earmarked for the development of the Bodo region.
"The Central government will also provide more legislative, executive, administrative and financial powers to BTC, in respect of additional subjects such as rural electrification, non-conventional energy sources, solar energy, renewable energy and mini-hydel projects. The agreement will also cover the complete rehabilitation of the NDFB cadres as well as ensure the protection of land rights of tribals in the region," it said.
The government said, "A commission will be appointed under Article 14 of the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution, with representatives from the state government, ABSU and BTC, to look into issues related to population and area within Bodoland Territorial Area Districts (BTAD). In addition, a Bodo Kachari Welfare Council will be formed to look after the concerns of Bodos’ living outside BTAD."
The Assam government will notify Bodo language as the associate official language in the state and will set up a separate directorate for Bodo medium schools. A separate DIG post will also be created for the BTAD region. A compensation of Rs 5 lakh will be provided to those who were killed during the Bodoland movement.
This is the third Bodo accord which has been signed in the last 27 years since the movement for a separate Bodoland state commenced in Assam.
The first Bodo accord was signed with the ABSU in 1993, leading to the creation of a Bodoland Autonomous Council with limited political powers.
In 2003, the second Bodo accord was signed with the the Bodo Liberation Tigers (BLT), leading to the formation of a Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC) with four districts of Assam, Kokrajhar, Chirang, Baska and Udalguri, called the Bodoland Territorial Area District.
The BTC was formed under the 6th Schedule of the Constitution. The demand for a separate state for the Bodos has been going on in Assam for about five decades.