HT Bureau
GUWAHATI, March 31: Chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma led the state in paying rich tributes to Bodofa Upendranath Brahma on his 67th birth anniversary celebrated as Chatra Diwas on Friday.
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Brahma, who was honoured with the title ‘Bodofa’ (guardian of the Bodos) posthumously, was a leader of the Bodo community who died of a terminal illness at the age of 34 years in 1990.
At a programme held at Srimanta Sankardev Kalakshetra here on Friday, the chief minister while paying rich tributes to Bodofa Upendranath Brahma appealed to students to learn at least one ethnic language as a mark of respect to the great soul.
On the occasion of Chatra Diwas commemorating his birthday, the chief minister announced several measures for the empowerment of students in the state.
As a part of the welfare measures, Sarma inaugurated a scheme where 3.4 lakh students of Higher Secondary and Degree will be given Rs 1,459 each for buying books.
Moreover, 16,763 students will get Rs 7,157 each to pay mess bills. Every Post Graduate (PG) girl student will be entitled to Rs 10,000 each annually and special benefits like minority scholarship to the tune of Rs 2000 and Rs 4000 will be given to every girl student for pursuing Higher Secondary and Degree courses respectively.
The chief minister also started the process of distributing tablets to 51,858 schools to enable them to maintain students’ data digitally. He also disbursed funds to the tune of Rs. 50,000 under Abhinandan scheme as government subsidy to the students who are pursuing higher education by taking educational loans.
Further, to make education free in colleges, the chief minister announced financial aid to 337 colleges.
Sarma said that the announcements and disbursing of government aid to the accounts of the beneficiary students through DBT will help the government to revolutionise DBT process and get rid of the involvement of any third person.
He also said that the government has extended its helping hands to lend self-reliance to every family which according to him will strengthen the edifice of ‘Atmanirbhar’ Assam.
Sarma on the occasion, also presented sanction letters to a few beneficiaries physically to mark the beginning of rolling out of seven schemes for the benefit of the students.
Finance minister Ajanta Neog, education minister Ranoj Pegu, BTC chief Pramod Boro also spoke on the occasion.
House pays tribute to ‘Bodofa’
GUWAHATI, March 31 (PTI): The Assam Assembly on Friday paid rich tributes to ‘Bodofa’ Upendranath Brahma on his birth anniversary, which the state is observing as ‘chatra divas’ (students’ day) from this year.
Speaker Biswajit Daimary led the House in remembering the contributions of Brahma towards society and the Bodo community in particular.
Daimary, who also hails from the Bodo community, said, “From a very humble background, Brahma rose to be a leader of the Bodos through his vision. He worked tirelessly for the uplift of the community.
“He gave up a government job and his family life for the cause of his people. On his birth anniversary, we pay our tributes to him.”
Bodoland People’s Front (BPF) legislator Durga Das Boro recalled his close association with Brahma and how Bodofa’s leadership quality was apparent from a young age.
Manoranjan Talukdar of the CPI (M) said Brahma and the Bodo community had to strive for a long to get their rightful dues and stressed that those in power should be able to address the legitimate aspirations of all sections of people.
“It took us a long time to meet the aspirations of the Bodos. We should act faster in meeting the aspirations of other communities,” he added.
AIUDF legislator Aminul Islam said, “His life has shown that much can be achieved even in a short period. We should all draw inspiration from him.”
Ministers Pijush Hazarika and Atul Bora, UPPL legislator Gobinda Basumatary and Independent MLA Akhil Gogoi also spoke on various facets of Brahma’s life and struggle for the rights of the Bodo community in the over hour-long discussion.
