NEW DELHI, Jan 27 - Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal on Monday said that the agreement with the Bodo leaders has ensured that Assam�s territorial integrity will remain intact.
Interacting with newsmen minutes after signing of the Bodo Agreement, Sonowal said that peace has been restored and there will be all round development of the Bodo people. The Government will ensure implementation of the Agreement signed today, Sonowal said.
All the stakeholders of Bodo society have today signed an agreement reaffirming the territorial integrity of Assam, said State Minister, Himanta Biswa Sarma.
First, a commission will be constituted to examine inclusion of villages which are not part of BTAD today but contiguous to it. The commission will recommend inclusion of new villages substantially dominated tribal people. Likewise from existing BTAD, the villages which are not substantially dominated by tribal people will be excluded. The total number of seats in BTC will increase to 60 after the alterations.
Sarma said that the BTAD will now be called Bodoland Territorial Region. The Council will enjoy more legislative, executive, administrative and financial powers. The Deputy Commissioners and Superintendents of Police (SPs) will be appointed in consultation with BTC, he said.
The Government of India will expedite conferring of Schedule Tribe status to Bodo people living in the hill districts of Assam, stated Sarma.
The Bodo language in Devnagri script will now be the associate official language of Assam. Earlier it was confined to Bodo areas.
Besides administrative changes have been recommended like establishment of administrative staff college.
A Central university will be set up at Barama in the name of Upendra Nath Brahma, a national sports university will be established in BTR, Sport Authority of India centres will be set up in Udalguri, Baska and Chirang, Institute of Livelihood University will be set up among others.
There is an industrial and employment package and a rail coach factory will be set up in BTR. The Government of Assam will formulate a special industrial package in BTR.
The Government of Assam will also upgrade the embankments in BTR.
The Government of Assam will also set up an autonomous welfare council for Bodo Kachari living outside BTR.
The commission will complete its task in six months, though the ensuing election scheduled in April will be on 40 seats, he said.
Today the non-Bodo people will be the most happy because they have been demanding exclusion of non-Bodo villages from BTR. The villages with substantial non-Bodo population have the right to move out. This is a win-win situation for all, Sarma said.