Assam: BTR Demands Inclusion in Article 280 to Boost Development Funding

KOKRAJHAR: The Bodoland Territorial Region (BTR), an autonomous administrative authority in Assam’s Bodo tribal areas, has demanded its inclusion in Article 280 of the Constitution to get more funds for the development of some remote districts that suffered decades of insurgency and are now on a peace path.

Pramod Boro, the chief executive member of the BTR’s governing body, the Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC), told a group of journalists here that he was “trying to sustain” the peace that was achieved after four decades of instability, fear, uncertainty, and threat.

Monday marked the successful five years of the tripartite Bodo Peace Accord inked between the Bodo groups, the Centre, and the Assam government on January 27, 2020. The BTR, set up by the 6th Schedule of the Constitution, comprises five districts—Kokrajhar, Chirang, Baska, Udalguri, and the latest, Tamulpur.

Inclusion under Article 280 will address “many of our financial problems,” Boro said as he underlined that the BTC has humongous work to create infrastructure and ensure basic facilities for the BTR residents.

Boro also said that he has learned that the Centre is preparing the “final draft” for another amendment of the 125th Constitution Amendment Bill. The Sixth Schedule relates to the administration of tribal areas in the states of Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura, and Mizoram.

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