Page 14 - NIS English January 16-31

Nation BODO ACCORD

HARBINGER

OF A GOLDEN

FUTURE

THIS IS THE THIRD ACCORD IN PAST 27 YEARS WITH NO DEMANDS PENDING NOW

fter the historic agreement among the Central the agreement was inked among the Central
AGovernment, State Government and the and State Governments and representatives
Bodo Cadres, in a programme held in January of Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC), United
2020, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had said, Bodo People's Organization (UBPO), all the
“For those who continue to have faith in arms four factions of National Democratic Front of
and violence either in the North East, or Naxal Bodoland (NDFB) and All Bodo Students Union
areas or Jammu Kashmir, I request them to learn (ABSU). Hailing the accord, the Prime Minister
and draw inspiration from the Bodo Youth and said, "After a wait of 50 years, agreement with
return to the mainstream. Come back and start our Bodo friends heralds a new beginning. It will
celebrating life”. It is the effectiveness of these strengthen Assam’s unity, bring development
and usher in a bright future." In the past,
THE SOLUTION the Bodo representatives signed the not being satisfied with the settlements
ENDING historic agreement with the Government of 1993 and 2003, Bodos have been
THE of India and Government of Assam in consistently demanding more powers.
January 2020. According to this, before A comprehensive and final resolution to
the inking of the accord, the name of their demands has been arrived at. With
Bodoland Territorial Council was changed this agreement, around 1,615 armed
50 to Bodoland Territorial Region (BTR). As cadres have abjured violence and joined
-year a result of this development, BTR was the mainstream. A Special Development
old Bodo given more rights, an increase in the Package of Rs 1,500 Crore over three
crisis and number of seats from 40 to 60 and several years is to be given by the Central
finding a new districts. On January 30, 2020, 1,615 Government to undertake specific projects
permanent cadres surrendered. Compensation was for the development of Bodo areas.
solution to announced for people who lost their lives WHAT IS BODO ACCORD
the problem, due to the Bodo movement violence. In 1972, All Bodo Students Union (ABSU)
had started a movement demanding a
words that peace is prevalent in the once volatile separate state of Bodoland. Similarly in 1974, the
region of North East and insurgency is declining. Plain Tribal Council of Assam (PTCA) had also
This is the third time in the 27-year period from put forth a demand for a separate state for the
1993-2020 that such an agreement has taken Bodos. These organisations have many times
place with the Bodo representatives. Before this, also resorted to violence and shutdowns in the
two agreements had taken place in 1993 and past. After 1991, violence and insurgency had
2003 but every time some or the other demand claimed a lot of lives including those of cadres,
remained unaddressed. But this time around security personnel and other people.

12 New India Samachar