by Preetam BC

 

Kokajhar : The All Bodo Students Union (ABSU) has resolved to continue the vigorous mass movement for separate Bodoland state if the Government don’t take a policy decision at political level for permanent solution of the Bodoland issue and political right to the Bodos living outside the proposed Bodoland area and Hills Tribe status to the Bodos living in Karbi Anglong and Dima Hasao at the earliest.

The decision was taken during the 52^nd Annual conference of ABSU which concluded Monday at Serfanguri in Kokrajhar after three days programmes.

“We welcome the Cabinet decision of the Assam government for solution of Bodo issue and urged the state and central government to act accordingly for permanent peaceful solution. We also appeals to the Union government to take necessary initiative for early solution of Bodoland and its related issues as decided by the State Cabinet of Assam Government, ABSU president Pramod Boro said.

The influential student union also urged upon the government meaningfully and mutually conclude the peaceful negotiation with all factions of Bodo Armed Revolutionary groups such as NDFB(P) & NDFB so as to usher an era of peace, harmony and development in the region.

The union in its delegate sitting has adopted several important resolution related to the community.

It has urged upon the state Government of Assam not to impose Assamese language for Bodo Medium schools of Assam as well as the Bodo students studying in other medium as compulsory language subject and also appeal the state government for continuation of thee language formula in schools instead of four languages on the basis of draft National Education Policy 2019. The ABSU also demand for implementation of Bodo Language as one of the state official language of Assam as per the Governor notification 15/02/2016 with immediate effect.

The union has decided to oppose the implementation of Clause VI of Assam Accord in its present form as it is found to be exclusive for protection of Assamese speaking community. “Implementation of this clause would be acceptable only if it is rectified and made inclusive for safeguard of all the ethnic and tribal communities of Assam, it said.

 The ABSU also decided to continue opposing the granting of ST Status to 6 communities as it believes a Tribe inherits its identity, but not granted by any Government. “If the ST status is granted to the aspiring advance and populous communities the right and privileges of the existing small and marginalized Tribal communities will be disturbed, which will be against the spirit and purpose of The Constitution (Scheduled Tribe) Order 1950, it said.

 On the protest in parts of Assam against the C (A) A 2019, the ABSU has decided to extend moral support to the peaceful and democratic movement.

The Union has also resolved to reiterate its standing demand the creation of separate Directorate of Education for Bodo medium for smooth administration, appointment of teachers, transfer and posting, infrastructure development with all round development and special care to the pathetic condition of the Bodo medium schools in Assam, i.e. filling up of all vacant posts of Bodo medium LP, UP, High Schools, Higher Secondary and Colleges of Assam to meet the huge gap of PTR in Bodo medium schools as education become the Fundamental Rights under the RTE Act 2009, Provincialisation of all category Venture Bodo Medium schools and colleges of Assam without any condition and also demands the Govt. of Assam to make available all the Bodo Medium Textbooks before the commencement of academic session 2020 at all the Bodo medium schools across Assam.

The student body also opposes the government projects such as High Voltage Power Grid and Gas or Water Pipeline through the Tribal Lands and Sub-Plan areas and strongly oppose such policy of the government and review the same leaving the tribal lands free from such land acquisitions by the Government of India or state. It also demanded the state government to resolved various issues of different tribal groups of Assam as already submitted by the CCTOA and respective organizations.

Prof Kamal Malla Buzarbaruah, former Vice Chancellor, Assam Agriculture University, Jorhat grace the Open Session on the concluding day as the chief guest. Hitendra Nath Goswami, Speaker, Assam Legislative Assembly and Bodo Sahitya Sabha president Toren Boro attended as special invited guests.

The Open Session was also attended by chief coordinator of Coordination Committee of Tribal Organisations of Assam (CCTOA) Aditya Kakhlary, Prof Laishramladu Singh, Vice Chancellor Bodoland University and Benjamin Soren, Adviser Santali Sahitya Sabha, NDFB general secretary Gobinda Basumatary, former Rajya Sabha MP Urkhao Gwra Brahma and president All Rabha Students’ Union Ramensingh Rabha among others.