A Memorandum of Settlement (MoS) was signed on 27.01.2020 with factions of the National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB), All Bodo Students Union etc.  This MoS seeks to increase the scope and power of Bodoland Territorial Council and to streamline its functioning; resolve issues related to Bodo people residing outside Bodoland Territorial Area Districts (BTAD); promote and protect Bodo’s social, cultural, linguistic and ethnic identities; provide legislative protection for the land rights of tribals; ensure quick development of tribal areas and rehabilitate members of NDFB factions. MoS also provides for establishing a Bodo-Kachari Welfare Council as per existing procedure, notifying Bodo language as an associate official language in the State and to set up a separate directorate for Bodo medium schools.  A provision is also there for a special Development package of Rs.1500 crores to undertake specific projects for the development of Bodo areas.

In pursuance of Clause 3.1 of MoS relating to ‘Alteration of Area of BTAD’, Govt. of Assam has appointed a Commission on 29^th September, 2020 to examine inter-alia and recommend on inclusion of villages contiguous to BTAD and having majority tribal population, as demanded by Bodo organizations and exclusion of villages currently under BTAD which are contiguous to non-Sixth Schedule areas and have majority non-tribal population.

This was stated by the Minister of State for Home Affairs, Shri G.Kishan Reddy in a written reply to question in the Lok Sabha today.

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NW/RK/PK/DDD/2409

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