Bill to form Council for Bodo Kacharis placed; Bodo to be made an 'associate official language'

GUWAHATI: The Government of Assam has introduced the 'Bodo Kachari Welfare Autonomous Council Bill-2020'. Minister for the 'Welfare of Plain Tribes & Backward Classes' (WPT&BC), Chandan Brahma placed the Bill on the first day of the winter session in the Assam Assembly on Monday. Moreover, under the 'The Assam Official Language (Amendment) Bill, 2020', step has been taken to make the Bodo language an "associate official language" across the State. This Bill was placed in the House by Parliamentary Affairs Minister Chandra Mohan Patowary.

The Council will have jurisdiction over 34 subjects. Its area encompasses the villages inhabited by the Bodo-Kachari community within Assam but those outside the Sixth Scheduled areas. There is also provision for inclusion of areas that are under the other existing tribal autonomous councils subject to prior consultations with them.

The election for the Council will be conducted by the Assam State Election Commission.

Of the 40 members in the General Council (having a term of five years), 36 will be elected and the remaining four would be nominated by the State government. While 25 of the 36 elected representatives will be reserved for the ST (Scheduled Tribes) communities, six will be reserved for women of any community residing within the Council area. At the same time, the four nominated members will be from among the groups or communities residing in the Council areas.

The Council will function in the lines of six Autonomous Councils already created under the State Act. The Council's Chairman, Deputy Chairman, CEM (Chief Executive Member), Deputy CEM and (EMs) Executive Members will be selected from among the elected members. The five-year term of each Council will commence from the date of its first meeting after election of its members.

The number of EMs will be determined by the General Council. However, this number would not exceed one-third of the total members of the General Council.

OTHER BILLS PLACED IN HOUSE: Notably, the nine other Bills placed in the House on Monday were: 'The Assam Tea Plantations Provident Fund & Pension Fund & Deposit Linked Insurance Fund Scheme (Amendment) Bill, 2020'; 'The Assam Ease of Doing Business (Amendment) Bill, 2020'; 'The Assam Taxation (Liquidation of Arrear Dues) (Second Amendment) Bill, 2020'; 'The Assam Micro Finance Institutions (Regulation of Money Lending) Bill, 2020'; 'The Assam Education (Provincialisation of Services of Non-Teaching Staff of Venture Educational Institutions) (Amendment) Bill, 2020'; 'The Moran Autonomous Council (Amendment) Bill, 2020'; 'The Matak Autonomous Council (Amendment) Bill, 2020'; 'The Kamatapur Autonomous Council (Amendment) Bill, 2020'; and 'The Assam Repealing Bill, 2020'.

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