Assam's Bodoland on the Way to Progress

The state government is also mulling plans to boost the tourism industry by improving rail connectivity

- NISHAT NIZAMI

Once identified as a den of terror under militant groups, the Bodoland Territorial Region (BTR) in Assam is seeing a new dawn and ushering into a new era of development. The new phase of peace and prosperity is driven by multiple developmental projects including a crucial railway route connecting Bhutan, an expanded oil refinery and a defence corridor.

According to the chief minister of Assam, Himanta Biswa Sarma, around 20,000 people had lost their lives in the conflicts that plagued the region for decades. However, after the signing of the Bodoland Accord in 2020, the region has witnessed a new phase of peace and is now heading on the path of development. According to the government, in the past three and a half years, peace is prevailing in the region and there have been no incidents of violence. Around 6,000 people have been brought into the mainstream.

As explained by the CM, the growth in the BTR region is quicker than that of Assam. "BTR is blessed because they have special funds coming from the Centre. The council gets funds from three sources, including the Union government, the state and its own money. So, development in BTR is faster than that of the rest of Assam," said Mr Sarma.