By Our Kokrajhar Web Desk
Kokrajhar (Assam) ,Dec 15: The new chief executive member of Bodoland Territorial Council( BTC) Pramod Boro was sworn -in at a programme held at Bodofa Nwgwr in Kokrajhar on Tuesday where Chief Secretary of Assam, Jishnu Baruah administered the oath of office and secrecy.
The Chief Secretary also administered oath to Gobinda Basumatary as the Deputy Chief and Gautam Das, Ghanashyam Das and Diganta Baruah as executive members of the council in presence of state chief minister Sarbananda Sonowal.
CM Sonowal exuded confidence that the Pramod Boro led new Council would script successes in catapulting socio-economic development in the BTR areas. Paying rich tributes to Bodofa Upendra Nath Brahma, CM Sonowal said that this great personality discovered the hidden potential of the Bodos. Because of the vision of this great personality in the fields of socio, cultural, academic and political landscape, the BTR is in a position to make a strong statement .
Chief Minister Sonowal expressed his gratitude to all sections of the voters for electing the new members to a new Council.
He also said that the new council led by Pramod Boro would take all the people from Kokrajhar, Chirang, Baksa and Udalguri towards development. He said that Pramod Boro took oath to make BTR free from insurgency and corruption and strengthen the harmonious co-existence of all the communities in the BTR.
Attributing the Bodo Accord 2020 to the contributions of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Sonowal also expressed confidence that the new accord would bolster peace and development in the region by strengthening the social, economic, academic landscape of the people.
Sonowal said that in the 21st century, the BJP led government took a resolution to make Assam stronger in all fields. Responding to a call by the Prime Minister to make an Atma Nirbhar Bharat, Sonowal said that Government of Assam has also taken steps for making Assam self-reliant as the government is pursuing its mission very dedicatedly.
Chief Minister Sonowal said that the new Council should strive to give respect, identity and dignity to all sections of the people of the BTR. He also said that the voters of BTR have strengthened the hands of Prime Minister Modi to bring about positive changes in the region.
He, further said that the time has come to bring about tangible development in the BTR as he requested the new Council led by Pramod Boro to work with dedication for robust development in the region.
Stating that development of a region depends on cooperation of all stake holders, Sonowal requested the UPPL, BJP, GSP to work unitedly for peace and prosperity of the BTR. He also requested BPF supremo Hagrama Mohilary to extend all cooperation. Sonowal said that the development of all districts namely Kokrajhar, Chirang, Baksa and Udalguri is possible only through harmony.
Chief Minister Sonowal also attributed the ‘change of guard’ in the BTR to the end of intimidating days in the region. He also said that the four districts of the BTR is full of natural resources and beauty , and the new dispensation needs to create a broad roadmap for transforming BTR into a potential tourist destination.
He at the same time assured all government support to the new Council to expedite development of the region. He also observed that from now onwards there will no impediment for the indigenous people to sell or purchase lands.
He said that the members of the proscribed organizations like NDFB understanding the futility of violence gave up arms and returned to the main stream of the society. He said that all the cadres of NDFD who came to the main stream would be adequately rehabilitated.
He also said that a package worth Rs. 60 crore would soon be announced. He also assured that the cadres belonging to Adivasi, Santhal groups etc who would come over ground and give up violence would also be rehabilitated.
Health and Family Welfare Minister Dr. Himanta Biswa Sarma said that peace brings prosperity and development and creates a new horizon of possibilities. Thanking the Prime Minister and Union Home Minister for Bodo Accord, Dr. Sarma said that the new accord would be conducive to fulfil the aims and aspirations of the people of Bodoland . He also emphasized that by bringing about equal development of all sections of people living in the BTR, the dream of Bodofa will be fulfilled .
By giving the Bodo language an official status, giving development councils for all the Bodos living outside BTR areas, giving relaxations to provincialization rules of the schools located at BTR, the present State government has taken a series of steps for the development of BTR.
He also announced that in the coming days, steps will be taken to set up new educational institutions, new stadium, campus of Bodoland University at Udalguri, Medical College at Tamulpur and setting up colleges in each of all the 40 constituencies in the BTR. He also said that from 2021, Kokrajhar Medical College would start functioning.
BTC chief executive member Pramod Boro thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, CM Sarbananda Sonowal, Health Minister Dr. Himanta Biswa Sarma and said that the Bodo Accord would spell an end to the era of fear psychosis in the region and usher in an era of peace and tranquility. Stating that the violence had taken several lives in the BTR, the new Chief said that from now onwards there will exist an ambience of peace and prosperity, friendship, camaraderie and brotherhood.
He also added that the 2.40 lakh homeless people living in the BTR would be given houses, besides drinking water and good quality roads in all areas of the region.
“Kokrajhar will now be known as a city for peace and integrity in the days to come”, Boro said adding tha the UPPL BJP GSP alliance government in BTC will emphasis for paving the way for good governance and corruption free society.
He said that the alliance government is committed to work for the welfare and development of the citizens with dedication. He urged upon all sections of communities to extend cooperate to create an integrated society in the region.
After taking oath , Pramod Boro has assumed his office at BTC Secretariat today.
Boro met BTC secretariat officials and staff at a meeting and discussed about official activity and functions.
He said that BTC Secretariat is for peoples of the four districts and the officials must work dedicatedly towards betterment of the citizens.
He has urged the secretariat officials and staff to be punctual while discharging their respective duties and responsibilities.
He said that his government will be ensure a corruption free society in the council region.
He has assured of that portfolios of the executive members would be allotted within a week as well executive members would be announced within five days.
Minister of State for Irrigation Bhabesh Kalita, MPs Naba Sarania, Pallab Lochan Das, Dilip Saikia, Chairman Housefed Ranjeet Kumar Dass, Chief Executive Members of Karbi, Dimasa, Mising Autonomous Councils and a host of other dignitaries were present on the occasion.
