Bodoland Territorial Council
Why in news?
The 2025 elections saw the Bodoland People’s Front (BPF) return to power, supported by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
About Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC)
- The Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC) is an autonomous administrative body governing the Bodoland Territorial Region in Assam,
- It was established under the Sixth Schedule of the Indian Constitution.
- Aims to promote development and protect the ethnic, linguistic, and cultural rights of the Bodo people and other communities in the region.
- The BTC comprises 40 elected members and 6 appointed by the Governor of Assam, totaling 46 representatives known as Members of Council Legislative Assembly (MCLA).
History and Formation
- The BTC was formed in 2003 following a Memorandum of Settlement between the Bodoland Liberation Tiger Force (BLTF), the Government of India, and the Government of Assam.
- The BTC replaced the Bodoland Autonomous Council and began functioning in December 2003.
- The Bodoland Territorial Region was further formalized in 2020 after a major peace agreement involving the National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB) and other stakeholders.
Structure and Membership
- The BTC comprises 40 elected members and 6 appointed by the Governor of Assam, totaling 46 representatives known as Members of Council Legislative Assembly (MCLA).
- Reserved seat breakdown: 30 for Scheduled Tribes, 5 for non-Scheduled Tribes, 5 open seats, and 6 nominated seats for unrepresented communities.
Powers and Competencies
- Agriculture, forestry, animal husbandry, health, education, handlooms, sports and youth welfare, museums, urban development, tribal and minority welfare, tourism, industry.
- The council also has authority to levy taxes, fees, and tolls related to property, vehicles, goods entry, sanitation, employment, income, schools, and roads.
The BTC is designed to accelerate socio-economic progress in a previously marginalized region, address specific Bodo aspirations, and provide self-governance. It plays a key role in rural development, infrastructure enhancement, skill development, and cultural preservation.
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