Context:

Assam celebrated the first anniversary of the historic Bodoland Territorial Region (BTR) agreement.

Bodo Accord

• The 3rd Bodo Accord was signed in New Delhi on January 27 last year by the Centre with all four factions of-
  • National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB)
  • The All Bodo Students Union (ABSU)
  • United Bodo Peoples’ Organisation (UBPO)
• It was expected to end decades-old violent demand for a separate Bodoland state and bring peace to areas dominated by Bodos, the largest tribe in Assam.

The previous pacts

• This is the third pact signed between the government with Bodo tribes so far.
• 1993: All Bodo Students Union (ABSU) and the government of India signed the first agreement in 1993.
  • The deal helped in the creation of the Bodoland Autonomous Council.
  • The Bodos were unsatisfied with the pact as their demands were not met which led to an armed movement for a separate Bodoland.
• 2003: In 2003, the second agreement was signed between the Government of India and extremist group Bodo Liberation Tigers (BLT).
  • This pact led to the formation of the Bodoland Territorial Council within four districts – Udalguri, Chirang, Baska, and Kokrajhar.
  • These areas are commonly called the Bodoland Territorial Area District (BTAD).

Explain: Bodo

The Bodo people are the largest tribe of Assam settled in the northern part of the Brahmaputra river valley. It is estimated that the Bodo tribe comprises 28 percent of Assam’s population.

Bodo-Kachari Autonomous Welfare Council

• The State Cabinet has also created Bodo-Kachari Autonomous Welfare Council outside the sixth schedule area for the welfare of the community, particularly for those who live outside the areas of the Bodoland Territorial Region (BTR).
  • The Sixth Schedule of the Constitution has provisions for the administration of tribal areas in the border states of Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura, and Mizoram.
  • It has provisions for the constitution of autonomous districts and councils.
  • With this, the Assam government has fulfilled one of the key promises of the 3rdBodoland accord signed with the National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB).

Details of the Accord

• The existing Bodoland Territorial Areas District (BTAD) shall be renamed as Bodoland Territorial Region comprising area covered under BTAD.
• The number of seats in BTAD will be increased from 40 to 60
• The government of Assam shall set up a Bodo-Kachari Welfare Council for focused development of Bodo villages outside BTAD in the lines of other existing Councils for Plains Tribes
• GOI to expedite the process of granting Hills tribe status to Bodos living in Hills areas
• A central university will be set up at Barama in the name of UpendraNath Brahma
• Special industrial policy for BTAD
• Railway coach factory to be set up in BTAD area
• Sports Authority of India (SAI) centre to be set up at Udalguri, Baksa, and Chirang
• DC, SP will be appointed in consultation with BTC authority.
• A National Sports University will be set up.