Accord for Peace and Rehabilitation A Case Study of Bodoland Territorial Region

Abstract

The Bodoland Territorial Region (BTR) Accord, signed on January 27, 2020, marked a historic newlinepeace agreement between the Government of India, the Government of Assam, the All Bodo newlineStudents Union (ABSU), the United Bodo People s Organization (UBPO), and four factions of newlinethe National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB). The primary aim of the Accord was to newlineend decades of ethnic unrest, armed struggle, and demands for a separate Bodoland state by newlinegranting more autonomy, political rights, and development support to the Bodo people in newlineAssam. newlineThe Bodo community, one of the largest tribal groups in Assam, has long felt marginalized and newlineunderrepresented in Indian politics and development policies. This marginalization dates back newlineto British colonial policies and was further worsened by post-independence neglect. Economic newlinedeprivation, cultural assimilation, and lack of education created deep-rooted grievances among newlinethe Bodos, leading to demands for a separate state to preserve their identity and ensure sociopolitical newlinerights. The ABSU led this movement from 1986 onwards, initially demanding full newlinestatehood. Over time, this struggle evolved into armed conflict, with the formation of militant newlinegroups like the NDFB. newlineOver the decades, multiple peace accords attempted to resolve the Bodoland issue. In 1993, the newlineBodoland Autonomous Council (BAC) was created under a tripartite agreement, but it lacked newlineconstitutional backing. In 2003, the Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC) was established with newlineconstitutional protection, following an agreement with the Bodo Liberation Tigers (BLT). newlineHowever, implementation remained inconsistent, leading to dissatisfaction. The 2020 BTR newlineAccord is seen as the most inclusive and comprehensive peace agreement, building on earlier newlineefforts but providing expanded territorial, political, and developmental guarantees. newlineThe BTR Accord brings the five districts of Kokrajhar, Baksa, Chirang, Udalguri, and newlineTamulpur under the jurisdiction of the Bodoland Territorial Region. The BTC was empowered newlinefurther with legislati