BTC election: UPPL releases manifesto, emphasized on good governance and all round development

From Preetam Brahma Choudhury

Kokrajhar: The United People’s Party, Liberal (UPP-L) released its election manifesto for the upcoming Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC) elections scheduled in two phases on December 7 and 10 next. Party president Pramod Boro released the manifesto at the party youth office in Kokrajhar today in the presence of party members.

The manifesto emphasized on good governance, all round development, welfare for all communities, women, farmers and revenue generations.

Upon voted to power, the party promises of holistic implementation of each and every clause of Bodoland Territorial Region Accord within 2025, ensure 100% rehabilitation of all the surrendered members of the National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB) as per clause 9 and 10 BTR Accord.

It said the Village Council, Block Development Office and District Development Authority will be connected through Digital Network for smooth e-governance for ensuring transparent and accountable government and formulate an effective BTR Revenue Policy to generate at least Rs. 1,000,0000.00 (Rupees One Crore) internal revenue from different sources.

“Voted to power, our government will ensure financial rehabilitation and one concrete house and one toilet under BTR Awaj Yojna in line with Pradhan Mantri Awaj Yojna to all enlisted victim families of 1993, 1996, 1998, 2008, 2012 and 2014 Ethnic Conflict and Internal Displacement. Ensure representation from all ethnic/ linguistic/religious communities to the Central Selection Board/Land Advisory Board, Other Boards and Committees, Boro said.

He said Janata Durbar will be organize quarterly in every constituency for onsite redressal of grievances of people in a proactive manner thereby establishing a transparent and accountable government.”

For women empowerment, the party promises to enact legislation for 33% women reservation in Village Council/Municipal Corporation/Town Committees for adequate representation in spheres of governance; BTR Women Empowerment Mission by providing Rs. 75,000/- to Rs. 400,000/- to all the Women Self Help Group/Joint Liability Groups registered with BTR Rural Livelihood Mission and financial assistance to widows, aged unmarried women and women victims to violence.

The manifesto also emphasis community special initiative like Create Developmental Board for Religious Minority, Adivashi, Barman-Kachari, Anusuchit Jati/Bengali, Sutradhar, Gorkha, Garo, Rabha, Koch Rajbongshi, Modahi, Nath-Yogi, Sarania-Kachari, Hajong, Kalita Jangasti and community funding to all the communities; Ensure representation from all ethnic/ linguistic/religious communities to the Central Selection Board/Land Advisory Board, Other Boards and Committees; 100%rehabilitation of surrendered militants i.e. Bengali Tiger Force, Adivashi Dragon Force, National Santhal Liberation Army, Bodoland Movement Volunteer Force and Workers, United Gorkha People’s Organization, Kamatapur Liberation Organization, Bodo Liberation Tigers and other surrendered militant groups and financial grant-in-aid to all the Sahitya Sabhas representing different linguistic communities to publication of books, organizing conferences, seminars, research, construction Sahitya Bhawans etc and regular appointment of Nepali/Rabha/ Santhali/Garo/Kurukh/Odiya/Mudari/Koch Rajbonshi and other MIL Teachers from Elementary to Secondary Schools within BTR.

For human resource development, it promises to set up a Bodoland Knowledge Commission (BKC) to promote quality education, high-quality research & innovation, create a reservoir of knowledge and create space for participation of individuals and institutions that have excelled in different fields to contribute towards the knowledge building process in Bodoland etc. Establish at least one Centre of Excellence in every four districts to promote excellence in higher education by offering highest level standards in the course such as Science, Commerce, Arts, Law, Management, IT, Nursing, Pharmacist, etc., provide Merit-Cum- Need-based scholarship to Medical/Engineering/ Management and other aspirants for higher learning; set-up one Competitive exam coaching center each in all districts and a special package of coaching in Delhi for IAS/IPS of Rs. 5 lacs for top 20 students and in Guwahati for ACS/APS of Rs. 2 lacs for top 20 students per year.

It also said the new government will take step for provincialization of all the bonafide venture schools and colleges as per clause 6.3 of BTR Accord within one year of coming to power and regularize all the contractual TET Teachers working in the schools of BTR. Special scholarship amounting to Rs. 1500/- to all girls studying undergraduate and postgraduate courses in the colleges and universities situated in BTR, Special educational scholarship for the Students of Tea Gardens and recommend subject introduction of 8th Scheduled languages and Medium of instruction languages in all the Universities of BTR and Assam.

The party also promises to setup one Stop Farmer’s Resource Centre (FRC) in all the Village Councils. Farm machinery bank/hiring centre with the facility of tractors, power tiller, power pump, motor pump will be established in every VCDC for farmers and launch Special Health Card titled “Onfaori” for free of cost treatment in any health institution up to the limit of Rs. 200,000/- for an elderly person aged above 65 years. Pension to 5 journalists aged above 60 years annually, Journalist Welfare Fund amounting to Rs. 10,00,000,00 to ensure wellbeing and welfare of journalists, set up Journalist Colony at the Headquarter of BTR and health insurance to all the registered journalists.

The UPPL president the UPPL government in BTC will formulate Bodoland Land Policy to ensure land rights for all communities residing in BTR by providing land to the landless and land pattas to families not possessing patta and ensure representation from all ethnic/ linguistic/religious communities to the Central Selection Board/Land Advisory Board, Other Boards and Committees.

The UPPL president expressed confidence of the party coming to power in BTC. “With the support and love of the people, we are determined to replace the corrupt, authoritative, violent, unjust and unpopular Bodoland Peoples Front. The UPPL is winning and forming the next govt in BTC with absolute majority, he said.

The UPPL is contesting in all 40 constituencies.

Earlier the UPPL president flagged off a huge bike rally in Kokrajhar subdivision covering six constituencies which started from Salakati.