The Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC) has announced that providing land to deserving landless families will be a major priority under its new administration. This development holds importance for governance, welfare delivery, and tribal land rights in the Bodoland Territorial Region (BTR).

• Landlessness is a growing concern in BTR, as people often treat land as their “bank”, selling it during crises and slipping into long-term insecurity.

Key Highlights

• Land to Landless as Priority: BTC aims to allocate land to landless households following legal provisions.
• Focus on Youth Self-Employment: BTC will expand entrepreneurship and skill development for unemployed youth.
• Improving Bodo-Medium School Education: Declining outcomes due to:

• Shortage of science and mathematics teachers
• Shift of affluent families to English-medium schools

• Plans include strengthening school infrastructure and recruiting more qualified teachers.
• Health Challenges in BTR: Malaria- and TB-prone region with shortage of specialist doctors.
  • BTC will request the State Government to deploy more doctors and frontline workers.
• Political Dynamics: Role of Bodoland People’s Front (BPF) within the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) is still under negotiation.

Relevant UPSC Facts

• • Bodoland Territorial Council functions under the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution.
    • It governs the Bodoland Territorial Region (BTR) in Assam.
  • The BTR currently comprises five districts: Kokrajhar, Chirang, Baksa, Udalguri and Tamulpur.
  • BTC Created under the Bodo Accord 2003 signed between: Government of India, Government of Assam and Bodo Liberation Tigers (BLT)

• Structure of BTC: 

• General Council

• • 46 members
  • 40 elected
  • 6 nominated by the Governor
  • Executive authority rests with the Executive Council led by the Chief Executive Member (CEM).
• Executive Council: Headed by the Chief Executive Member (CEM)
  • Includes Executive Members (EMs) with assigned departments (education, land, health, etc.).
• BTC has powers comparable to a mini-state government in its notified subjects:
• Transferred Subjects (Key Areas)
  • Land & Land Revenue (except reserved forests)
  • Education (primary & secondary)
  • Health, agriculture, irrigation
  • Culture, community welfare
  • Handloom & handicrafts
  • Forest (excluding national parks & reserve forests)
  • Local taxation
• BTC can frame laws on the above subjects; laws require Governor’s assent.
• Revenue Sources
  • Share of taxes from State Government
  • Grants-in-aid from the Consolidated Fund of India
  • Own revenues through:
  • Land revenue
  • Local taxes
  • Fees & licences

Exam Hook – Prelims Question

Consider the following statements about the Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC):

1. It is constituted under the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution.
   
2. BTC has legislative powers over land and forest management within the BTR area.
   
3. The Governor of Assam appoints all members of the BTC.
   

How many of the above statements are correct?
(a) One only
(b) Two only
(c) All three
(d) None

Answer: B

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