On 27 Jan, New Delhi succeeded in bringing the curtains down on more three decades of militancy in one of South Asia's hottest insurgency theatres. The government signed the new Bodoland Territorial Region (BTR) Accord with all the rebel factions viz :-
* National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB)
* All Bodo Students' Union (ABSU)
* United Bodo People's Organisation (UBPO) - a civil society body.
A masterstroke by government negotiators was their flexible approach in letting the area's front line student organisation, the ABSU, be a signatory to the deal. After the 1996 Mizo Accord, at least five major peace agreements have been clinched with insurgent groups but for the first time, a student organisation which had acted as a catalyst and unifier has become a signatory to an accord along with a civil society conglomeration.
This time the government was keen on a comprehensive settlement of the Bodo issue where the key demand for a separate Bodoland state was given up once and for all in lieu of adequate provisions for the uplift of the Bodo people, while keeping intact the territorial integrity of Assam.
The key aspects of the accord are :-
(a) More legislative, executive, administrative and financial powers.
(b) A retired judge will work out a mechanism for inclusion of villages with a majority tribal
population, contiguous to to the present Bodo Council Area, into BTR.
(c) Similarly, villages with a majority non-tribal population currently under the Bodo Council,
but contiguous to non-Sixth Schedule areas (meaning areas outside the Council jurisdiction)
will be excluded from the Council.
This is expected to address the issues of both, tribals currently outside the Bodo Council as
well as non-tribals currently living within the Council!
(d) From 40 seats, the BTR Council will now have 60 seats. Of them :-
(i) Upto 16 could be open seats, meaning seats where non-tribals can also contest
elections.
(ii) 6 nominated members, including 2 women members and two from unrepresented
communities.
(e) A Bodo-Kachari Welfare Council for focussed development of Bodo villages located outside
the Bodo Council area.
(f) Bodo language in Devnagri script as an associate official language of Assam.
(g) Setting up of several institutions of higher and technical education.
(h) Assam government to earmark Rs.250 crores per annum for a period of three years for
development of areas under the BTR Council.
(j) The central government will contribute an equal amount of Rs.250 crores per annum for the
same period.
This could be taken as a template for further accords in Mizoram etc.
Tailpiece.
Had got up around a quarter to 5, to finish up my pending work. Went through the chores and were ready well in time. Lekha went to the Guruvayur temple as part of her weekly tryst.
Went across to the nearby petrol pump to top up the Chevy and check tyre pressure, soon after lunch. Biju, from the PCI, had come by teatime to provide the antidote for the wood boring menace in the kitchen cabinet. Since the fumes from the medicine were strong and he had issued warning against inhalation, the kitchen was sealed while taking out the essentials for making supper and the morning tea.
Meanwhile, The Quarterdeck was progressively shut down. It's gonna be a long day tomorrow!
* National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB)
* All Bodo Students' Union (ABSU)
* United Bodo People's Organisation (UBPO) - a civil society body.
A masterstroke by government negotiators was their flexible approach in letting the area's front line student organisation, the ABSU, be a signatory to the deal. After the 1996 Mizo Accord, at least five major peace agreements have been clinched with insurgent groups but for the first time, a student organisation which had acted as a catalyst and unifier has become a signatory to an accord along with a civil society conglomeration.
This time the government was keen on a comprehensive settlement of the Bodo issue where the key demand for a separate Bodoland state was given up once and for all in lieu of adequate provisions for the uplift of the Bodo people, while keeping intact the territorial integrity of Assam.
The key aspects of the accord are :-
(a) More legislative, executive, administrative and financial powers.
(b) A retired judge will work out a mechanism for inclusion of villages with a majority tribal
population, contiguous to to the present Bodo Council Area, into BTR.
(c) Similarly, villages with a majority non-tribal population currently under the Bodo Council,
but contiguous to non-Sixth Schedule areas (meaning areas outside the Council jurisdiction)
will be excluded from the Council.
This is expected to address the issues of both, tribals currently outside the Bodo Council as
well as non-tribals currently living within the Council!
(d) From 40 seats, the BTR Council will now have 60 seats. Of them :-
(i) Upto 16 could be open seats, meaning seats where non-tribals can also contest
elections.
(ii) 6 nominated members, including 2 women members and two from unrepresented
communities.
(e) A Bodo-Kachari Welfare Council for focussed development of Bodo villages located outside
the Bodo Council area.
(f) Bodo language in Devnagri script as an associate official language of Assam.
(g) Setting up of several institutions of higher and technical education.
(h) Assam government to earmark Rs.250 crores per annum for a period of three years for
development of areas under the BTR Council.
(j) The central government will contribute an equal amount of Rs.250 crores per annum for the
same period.
This could be taken as a template for further accords in Mizoram etc.
Tailpiece.
Had got up around a quarter to 5, to finish up my pending work. Went through the chores and were ready well in time. Lekha went to the Guruvayur temple as part of her weekly tryst.
Went across to the nearby petrol pump to top up the Chevy and check tyre pressure, soon after lunch. Biju, from the PCI, had come by teatime to provide the antidote for the wood boring menace in the kitchen cabinet. Since the fumes from the medicine were strong and he had issued warning against inhalation, the kitchen was sealed while taking out the essentials for making supper and the morning tea.
Meanwhile, The Quarterdeck was progressively shut down. It's gonna be a long day tomorrow!
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