HT Correspondent
KOKRAJHAR, July 7: A committee was formed for recruitment of 10,000 Bodo youth, including surrendered cadres of four factions of National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB) in army, Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB), Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and other Paramilitary Forces.
The recruitment of surrendered NDFB cadres in Central Paramilitary Forces and rehabilitation was a clause of the Bodo Peace Accord signed between the Union government and four factions of NDFB, All Bodo Students Union (ABSU) and United Bodo people’s Organisation (UBPO) on January 26, 2019.
The decision to form a joint committee comprising Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC) administration and Central Paramilitary Forces was taken in a meeting held at BTC Secretariat here on Wednesday.
Similarly, four other district committees will also be formed for selection of candidates for recruitment to the Paramilitary Forces.
The meeting was attended by BTC chief Pramod Boro, deputy chief Gabinda Chandra Basumatary, executive members, principal secretary and secretaries, inspector general of police (IGP) of Bodoland Territorial Region (BTR), officials of Indian Army, SSB, CRPF, president/secretary of All Bodo Students Union (ABSU).
The meeting also decided to give special relaxation of the norms for recruitment of jawans in the Central Paramilitary Forces for recruitment of surrendered NDFB cadres.
The meeting also stressed for proper rehabilitation of the surrendered NDFB cadres besides engaging them in the Paramilitary Forces.
A proposal has also been sent to engage the surrendered NDFB members in the Territorial Army.
On June 26, BTC chief Boro urged Union Home minister Amit Shah to launch a special recruitment drive in BTC areas through the Army and Paramilitary Forces for recruitment of Bodo youth.
In a memorandum submitted to Shah, Boro said that he had discussed the matter of recruitment of Bodo youth with the additional director general (Special Branch) of the Assam Police and representatives of the Defence ministry and Paramilitary Forces.
“The BTC plans to set up sub-division-wise training facilities for next four years so that at least 10,000 Bodos join Armed and Paramilitary Forces,” he said in the memorandum.
The BTC chief also conveyed to Shah that representation of Bodo youth should be increased in the Army, Paramilitary Forces and Police, and training should be organised to facilitate the process. Boro urged the Home minister to do the needful for giving more legislative, executive, administrative and financial powers to the BTC by bringing a constitutional amendment bill in the Parliament.
He urged the Home minister to grant ST (Hills) status to the Bodo-Kachari people living in Karbi Anglong and Dima Hasao districts of Assam, establish a railway coach factory in BTC areas, expansion and strengthening of existing four roads connecting BTC to Bhutan.