The Centre signed a tripartite agreement with representatives of all factions of banned organisation National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB) at Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) on January 26th, 2020, giving peace a major boost in Assam. It is the third Bodo accord to be signed by the Centre and other stakeholders after 27 years.

As part of the Accord, the Bodoland Territorial Areas Districts (BTAD) will be renamed as Bodoland Territorial Region (BTR) and will have more administrative power. Bodo language will now be an associate official language with Devanagari script in Assam, Assam Finance Minister and NEDA Convenor Himanta Biswa Sarma said.

Around 1550 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.

— Amit Shah (@AmitShah) January 27, 2020

A financial package of Rs 1500 crore for 3 years will soon be announced by Union Home Minister Amit Shah for the overall development of the Bodoland areas.

The signing of the second Bodo accord in 2003 with the militant group Bodo Liberation Tigers, lead to the formation of a BTC with four districts of Assam – Kokrajhar, Chirang, Baska and Udalguri – called the BTAD. The region is predominantly inhabited by the indigenous Bodo people and other indigenous communities of Assam. The BTC was formed under the 6th Schedule of the Constitution.

বড়ো চুক্তিৰ শেহতীয়া তথ্য, কি আছে বড়ো চুক্তিত?বড়ো চুক্তি সন্দৰ্ভত হিমন্ত বিশ্ব শৰ্মাৰ মন্তব্য

Posted by TIME8 on Monday, 27 January 2020

Addressing the media, Sarma said that predominantly tribal villages will be included and non-tribal villages will be excluded from the BTR. He also said that the Assam government will set up a Commission for BTR and the representatives All Bodo Students’ Union and present Bodoland Territorial Council members to be part of the commission.

Sarma further informed that an Administrative Staff College, Central University in Barama by the name of Upendra Nath Brahma, Sports Authority of India centres in Udalguri, Baksa and Chirang, industrial policy for BTAD, railway coach factory in BTAD among others would be set up in BTR.

Final & comprehensive solution to their demands has been made, while retaining the territorial integrity of Assam. After the agreement, NDFB factions will leave the path of violence, surrender their weapons & disband their armed organizations within a month of signing the deal.

— Amit Shah (@AmitShah) January 27, 2020

As part of the up-gradation of the BTAD, the number of seats in BTC will be increased from 40 to 60. The Deputy Commissioner and Superintendent of Police will be appointed in BTR after due consultation with BTC leadership.

Sarma also mentioned that a National Sports University, autonomous welfare council for the Bodo people living outside BTAD areas, and a cancer hospital and medical College will be set up in BTR.

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