GUWAHATI: United People’s Party Liberal (UPPL) president Pramod Boro was sworn in as the new chief executive member of the Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC) in Kokrajhar on Tuesday.
In his speech at the oath-taking ceremony at a jam-packed field at Bodofa Nwgwr in Kokrajhar, Boro recollected his days of struggle in the past which made him more resolute to live a pro-people life.
“Past is nostalgic and harsh but I have resolved to work hard. Like I was in hardship, thousands of youths are still facing difficult times even today in Bodoland Territorial Region. There are students who do not get scope to study, do not have enough to eat and wear. I was one of them and today I have resolved to serve them,” said Boro, who was administered the oath by chief secretary Jishnu Baruah in the absence of governor Jagdish Mukhi.
Boro, who comes from a poverty-stricken family, had to work as a rickshaw puller and also as a wage earner in the coal mines to make a living, before he took charge as the president of the influential All Bodo Students’ Union (Absu) to lead the movement for a “separate Bodoland” over a decade ago.
Will work to solve BTR’s issues: Boro
Boro said, “Our new council won’t run after power, but will strive to solve problems of the people in BTR.”
Boro said the attempt of his administration will be to come up with policies to ensure that no family in BTR lives without a roof, medicine and food. “Our effort under BTC will be to ensure work for all unemployed and schooling for all. We have already visualized the modalities,” he added.
Boro said separate talks will be held with different communities living in BTR. “BTR does not have only Bodos. We will work so that every community can bloom,” he added. “We are not your neta (leader) but beta (son). Our prime thrust will be to ensure that no one lives with hunger,” he said.
In Boro’s speech, Bodofa Upendra Nath Brahma, regarded as the “Father of the Bodos”, found a special mention. “On the lines of Bodofa’s great ideology of live and let live, we continued our prolonged struggle which culminated in the form of the third Bodo Accord on January 27, bringing an end to insurgency in the BTC areas after decades. Let this be the new beginning,” he said.