BODO
ACCORD
A FAREWELL TO ARMS EMBRACING
PEACE WITH DEVELOPMENT AND JUSTICE
On December 7, 2003, amid tumult, excitement
and delight, a large gathering watched history
being made at Kokrajhar. On that crisp winter
morning, as Bodo musicians played the flute
and dhol and brightly as attired young women
swayed to the rhythm of traditional dances,
Deputy Prime Minister L.K. Advani watched
the swearing in of the interim Executive Council
of the Bodoland Territorial Council in Assam.
Sri Advani has especially flown in for the
occasion after Bodo Liberation Tiger (BLT)
leaders baid a farewell to arms and cemented
a negotiated settlement with the Government
of India by
committing
themselves to a democratic way of life.
Sri Advani called on other militant
groups especially the United Liberation
Front of Asom (ULFA) and the National
Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB)
to follow the example ste by the BLT,
which had renounced violence and embraced
peace with justice and development through
a democratic process. The meeting was
attended by Dr. C. P. Thakur, Minister,
DoNER, Sri Tarun Gogoi, Chief Minister
of Assam and Governor of Assam, LT.
Gen (Rtd) Ajai Singh.
The Previous day, December 6, 2003 had
witnessed another
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more than 2600 BLT militants bid farewell
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arms and surrendered their weapons at a public
function at Kokrajhar. The militants shed
their camouflage uniforms and laid down their
AK-47 rifles as they left the path of confrontation
and violence, from an uncertain life in the
jungles to a return home, where they can take
up productive work without fear or favour.
The Governor and Chief Minister of Assam as
well as Sri Swami Chinmayanand, Minister of
State for Home were present.
During his visit, the Deputy Prime Minister
laid the foundation stone of a Central Institute
of Technology (CIT) and emphasized the need
to tackle the huge infrastructure needs in
the area. Addressing the rally, Sri Advani
assured the Bodos that the Centre was committed
to the economic development of their areas
as well as the entire North East, which lags
behind other regions. In a step aimed at bridging
infrastructure gaps, he announced the setting
up of a 100 bedded hospital and nursing college
for the Bodoland Territorial Autonomous District
(BTAD).
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Bodo Liberation tigers, formed on June
18, 1996 --- had earlier pledged to
fight for a separate state out of Assam,
but within the Indian Union, through
an armed struggle. The demand for s
separate state for Bodos was launched
for the first time in 1986 by the All
Bodo Students Union (ABSU) which culminated
in the Bodo accord in 1993, after much
social unrest, violence and disruption.
The 1993 accord led to the creation
of the Bodoland Autonomous Council (BAC).
However, BAC failed to fully meet the
aspirations of Bodos and ABSU again
lunched an agitation denouncing the
accord and demanding creation of a separate
state. The BLT also indulged in a few
acts of violence during this period.
But these difficulties did not deter
the National Democratic Alliance government
at the Centre from making fresh efforts
to settle the Bodo issue. The Government
of India kept all its channels |
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informal talks open with the BLT. |
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After years of struggle, the BLT unilaterally
decided to suspend its armed operations on
July 14, 1999 and agreed to negotiate with
the Government of India. This is an example
to other underground groups in the region.
Those seeking to improve the lives of their
people through armed struggles should realize
that this path cannot succeed. The conditions
of people can be best improved in times of
peace, leading to stability and development.
The BLT gave up its demand for a separate
state and settled for the extension of the
Sixth Schedule Status to the Bodo areas, which
empowers them with rights over land, ensures
protection of their traditions and ethnic
identity and also enables them to govern themselves.
The BTAD is an outcome of a growing understanding
that political goals must be realistic and
that peace and development must take precedence
over emotions.
With their practical approach to a complex
problem, the Bodos have shown the way forward
to other militant groups in the North East,
which are directionless and disruptive. But
the road to the settlement was challenging
and long. Representatives of the Government
of India, Government of Assam and BLT held
not less than 30 rounds of tripartite talks
between March 2000 and February 2003 before
finalizing an accord. The commitment from
the Home Ministry was simple and clear: ensure
the territorial integrity of the country and
at the same time bring peace and development
to a neglected region.
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The
Memorandum of Settlement signed between
the Government of India, the Government
of Assam and the BLT on February 10,
2003, was a path-breaking event, which
seeks to assure all ethnic groups of
development, equality, security and
growth with stability. All major Bodo
organizations including ABSU, Bodo Sahitya
Sabha and All Bodo Women Welfare Federation
extended their whole hearted support
to the accord with the BLT.
Perhaps not since 1986, when the Mizo
Accord was signed between |
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the Government
of India and the Mizo National Front,
has the |
troubled North East witnessed such a potential
turning point. The Mizoram accord brought
peace to Mizoram after decades of conflict
and it remains one of the most peaceful states
of the country.
The latest Bodo accord brings the promise
of a lasting peace in the Bodo areas and to
a larger extent across the Assam Valley. Its
impact in other sttes should also not be ruled
out for a major group h as shown that power
flows from political wisdom and realism, not
just from the barrel of a gun or through angry
rhetoric.
SALIENT FEATURES OF
MEMORANDUM OF SETTLEMENT AND PRIORITIES
The Memorandum of Settlement aims at fulfilling
the economic, educational and linguistic
aspirations of the Bodos, preservation of
land rights, socio-cultural and ethnic identity
of the Bodos and to speed up the infrastructure
development in the areas under the BTC.
In pursuance of MoS, an autonomous district
known as the Bodoland Territorial Areas
Disrict (BTAD) has been constituted under
the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution of
India. Its jurisdiction extends over 8,970
sq.kms covering the four district of Kokrajhar,
Udalguri, Baska and Chirang.
The Bodoland Territorial Council will have
legislative, administrative, executive and
financial powers over 40 subjects. A major
thrust has been given to the economic development
of Bodoland to take forward the Central
Government's agenda for peace and development
in the region.
Government of India is committed to provide
additional assistance of Rs 500 crore over
a period of five years, i.e. Rs 100 crore
per annum, for developmental projects. One-time
financial assistance to the BTAD is al envisaged
for creation of infrastructure for the BTC
secretariat and at the district, sub-division
and block levels.
The centrally funded Central INSTITUTE
OF technology, WHICH WAS INAUGURATED BY
THE Deputy Prime Minister of 7th December,
will provide diploma sources in the information
technology, bio-technology, horticulture
and food processing, computer programming
and business management, enabling the development
of better technical skills in the region.
This is expected to help generate employment
opportunities among the youth of BTAD in
particular and Assam, in general. The Institute
will functioning from 2004.
The government is also committed to the
inclusion of the Bodo language in the Eighth
Schedule. The bill in the regard has already
been introduced in the parliament.
The Government is equally committed to
the empowerment of the Bodos as also the
protection of the existing rights including
land rights and privileges of the non-tribals
in the BTAD. An amendment has already been
carried out to article 332(6) of the Constitution
to provide that the existing representation
of scheduled tribes and non-scheduled tribes
from the Bodoland territory in the state
assembly will be maintained. Bodo leaders
have also given assurance that the BTC will
work and govern without bias or discrimination.
The rehabilitation of surrendered BLT cadres
is also being given high priority by the
Government of India and the stage government.
Eligible Bodo youth may be recruited into
the police, army and paramilitary forces.
They will also be provided with technical
training through institutions like CIT to
facilitate self-employment.
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