From Preetam Brahma Choudhury
Kokrajhar: Bodoland Territorial Region (BTR) chief executive member Pramod Boro on Thursday launched the ‘BTR Vision 2030: Peaceful, Green and Smart Bodoland’ at Jothumma 2.0— a Tribal Youth Conclave held at Bodofa Cultural Complex, Kokrajhar.
The document has been developed in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) India with an ambitious aim of ensuring sustainable development in BTR.
BTR executive member Daobaisa Boro, Regional Head of UNDP North East India John Borgoyary; Programme Coordinator, CAN, Germany Cynthia Dittmar, Supriya Khound, UNDP India, Assam State Information Commissioner Samudra Gupta Kashyap were among those present on the occasion.
In his speech, the BTR chief said “It is high time for the tribal communities to set long term goals and vision. While we have to do the right thing, there is a need to build peace in our society and ensure all round development.”
Highlighting the close connection between nature and tribal peoples, he said, “Tribal communities are generally voiceless and silent just like the nature that becomes turbulent when violated and infringed upon.”
He opined that the Vision will help in allrounder and overall development of Bodoland region.
Introducing the Bodoland Territorial Council Vision 2030: Peaceful, Green and Smart Bodoland, John Borgoyary, Regional Head of UNDP North East India, said that the document was an outcome of a large number of consultations held across the departments of the BTC.
“We need every department, official, civil society organization and leader to engage with all the stakeholders of the society for achieving the SDG 2030. Youths have to become torch bearers of the SDG at all levels, especially at the grassroot level, Borgoyary stated.
Delivering a goodwill message on the occasion, Cynthia Dittmar, Programme Coordinator of Child Aid Network Germany, said that there is a lot of work to be done in the area of education in Lower Assam.
She said that we need to focus on reducing the learning gap among school children due to the Covid 19 pandemic,” . Speaking earlier on, Dr. Monica Banerjee, Head, InterGlobe Foundation stressed the need to establish strong institutions in the Bodoland Territorial Region for ensuring equitable development of all communities residing in Bodoland region.
The three days Jothumma2.0- a Tribal Youth Conclave- being held at Bodofa Cultural complex in Kokrajhar enter second day today.
Over 200 delegates and representatives from 14 autonomous councils from different parts of the country are participating in the event deliberating on addressing various social issues as well as development aspirations in the Council areas.
The purpose of Jothumma 2.0 is to empower the youth to explore innovative ideas to tackle development challenges in the Autonomous and Districts Councils. Jothumma which means a gathering of people coming from diverse backgrounds with their diverse thoughts, a platform for the youth to embrace, learn, exchange and express their ideas.
The 1st Jothumma was organized in the month of February 2019 by a group of like-minded youths of Bodoland Territorial Council ( BTC) in Kokrajhar with the idea of inclusiveness and diversity.
