OUR CORRESPONDENT
KOKRAJHAR: The historic budget session of Assam at BTC Legislative Assembly on Monday with special discussion on the empowerment of 6th schedule councils of the state, emphasized the need of proper implementation of accords and the flow of adequate funds to streamline the developmental aspects in a meaningful way. The views on the empowerment of 6th schedule councils were taken from the legislators of all parties.
In over four-hour discussion and sharing opinions, all the appointed MLA speakers emphasized the need of empowering all 6th schedule councils with proper funding pattern and implementation of accords in letter and spirit in a time bound manner. BPF MLA Durga Das Boro said ‘discrimination’ grows in mind when someone’s hopes and aspirations are not given due importance. He said discrimination had been everywhere in the world. “In India we felt discrimination during British rule and this feeling of discrimination still exists in the 6th schedule councils. Dima Hasao has fewer number of legislators to raise their basic issues and when their voices are not heard with attention, they feel discriminated at heart”, he said adding that the non-implementation of clauses of accords in time bound manner make the stakeholders of the accords feel discriminated by the government. He also said five years had elapsed but most of the clauses of BTR accord are yet to be implemented which is implying the defection of law. He demanded that anti-defection law should be brought to ascertain the cause of the government’s failure to implement the clauses of the accords in a time bound manner.
Boro said no election was held for chairmen of VCDC and TCLCC since the beginning of BTC but for more accountability the election should be held. As per BTC accord, there had been a proposal for new national highway worth Rs. 1000 crores from Srirampur along Indo-Bhutan border but not implemented. Out of 26 colleges of BTC, 10 colleges were provincialized while remaining colleges are in the dark and no action is seen on the illegal encroachment in reserve forests of BTC, he said adding that the government should take holistic and sincere initiative to implement all clauses of the accord in a time bound manner.
UPPL MLA Lawrence Islary said Bodos had long movement history since PTCA from 1967 for creation of Udayachal, ABSU movement from 1987, BLT movement from 1996 etc. and has witnessed three accords of which first BAC accord under state act failed to satisfy the people and 2nd accord came in 2003 under 6th schedule with more autonomy and the 3rd accord in 2020 which is going on with constitutional safeguard. He said the lack of timely action of the government sometimes brings dissatisfaction. He cited example that over 25 different rules passed by the BTC Assembly had been sent to Dispur for Governor’s assignment but not a single rule gets Governor’s approval since 2005 to make an act and therefore, the state assembly should send resolution to the government of India supporting 125th amendment of the constitution of India to strengthen the 6th schedule councils.
MLA Akhil Gogoi said the fund of BTC had to be increased 10 pc annually but instead of that the release of funds to BTC is decreasing.
He strongly advocated for implementation of all clauses of BTR accord within a year, otherwise there could be return of arms movement for being neglected. He also said resolutions on the direct funding to 6th schedule councils through 125th amendment of the constitution should be sent to the government of India for empowerment of councils.
MLAs- vidyasing Engleng, Manaranjan Talukdar, Ramendra Nath Kalita, Mrinal Talukdar also advocated for more autonomy and financial power of the 6th schedule councils and emphasized the need for beyond 6th schedule perspective.
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