OUR CORRESPONDENT
KOKRAJHAR: A special interaction programme on the topic ‘BTR on the path of progress’ was held at Jwhwlao Nileswar Brahma Auditorium Hall, Bodoland University in Kokrajhar on Saturday evening, ensuring equal rights and justices to women working in different fields. The CEM of BTC Pramod Boro interacted with the women of Kokrajhar and Chirang districts.
Replying to queries on land rights, CEM of BTC Pramod Boro said that the Assam Land Rules and Regulation Act, 1886 was being followed by the Government of BTR and most of the land-related issues of BTC remained unresolved due to lack of land reformation earlier but that the present BTR Government had taken steps to solve them by launching Mission Bwiswmuthi and Land Melas. He said that the council had taken initiatives to provide land to landless indigenous and bona-fide communities through legal procedures. He also said that 31 lakh bighas of land in BTC were under tribal belts and blocks while over 21 lakh bighas were under forest, PGR, VGR, and khas lands but despite this fact, the council government was trying to give access to land rights to bona-fide citizens through legal framework.
On the question of the rising trend of youths using drugs and alcohol, Boro said that drug addiction had become a matter of grave concern worldwide and that backward regions like BTC were more vulnerable. He said that the NGOs and civil societies should come forward for awareness and counselling of misguided youths. He also said that the Government of BTR had opened five rehabilitation centres and five counselling centres as part of containing drug abuse. He further said that the religious groups and government institutions should also come forward to teach lessons against the use of drugs. He thanked the Chief Minister of Assam Dr Himanta Biswa Sarma for taking prompt initiatives to deal with the use of drugs and its supply networks.
CEM said that for amicable solution of problems of all the 26 communities, the Government of BTR had launched Bodoland Happiness Mission, reached their community leaders to learn their basic problems and subsequently launched Community Vision Documents for all 26 communities of the region. He said that the Community Welfare Department of the Government of BTR would convene at least four meetings in a year with all community leaders to solve their pending problems.
Women participants raised questions on the safety and security of women, steps on domestic violence and crimes against women, and support to women writers and sports personalities.
In his speech, former Deputy chief of BTC Kampa Borgoyari said that women should get equal rights, response, and care of male counterparts, and that the Government of BTR was going to empower women in every aspect from education to entrepreneurship, social to political space, and sports. “Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao” slogan of the Government of India to empower women was being followed in BTC, he said, adding that there was no reserved seat for women in BTC constituency but that the time had come to ensure 33 percent reservation for women in political space. He also said that there were 40 BTC constituencies and 420 VCDCs where women representations were given utmost importance. He further said that if 33 percent women’s reservation was ensured, around 100 women would get opportunities to become VCDC chairperson or elected representatives in BTC.
Earlier, the welcome speech was given by the Chairperson of Kokrajhar Municipal Board (KMB) and President of Women Wing UPPL Pratibha Brahma. The special interaction programme was also attended by MLA Lawrence Islary, MCLAs Reo Reoa Narzihary and Madhav Chandra Chetri, faculties of BU, and other dignitaries.
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