HT Correspondent
KOKRAJHAR, Feb 8: Representative officials from seven Autonomous District Councils (ADC) of the north-eastern state’s Sixth Schedule visited the Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC) and its Secretariat, Bodofa Nwgwr, in Kokrajhar on Wednesday. They shared knowledge and information regarding capacity building under the ongoing program on autonomous district councils’ financing and resource planning.
The representative officials of the Sixth Schedule included the Jaintia Hills Autonomous District Council, Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council, Garo Autonomous District Council, Mara Autonomous District Council, Lai Autonomous District Council, and Chakma Autonomous District Council.
The team was led by Dr MK Srivastava, programme director at the National Institute of Rural Development and Panchayati Raj (NIRDPR). They held several meetings with government officials of the Bodoland Territorial Region.
An interactive session was held between the different Sixth Schedule Councils and the BTC government aimed at strengthening resources and funding for comprehensive rural development. Several pertinent matters were discussed deeply, including building cooperation, strengthening communication, jointly preparing suggestions on the Sixth Schedule Amendment Bill, submitting them to the Centre, having joint representation in the Centre, establishing a coordination Secretariat in Guwahati/New Delhi, and knowledge sharing and learning from each other on various subjects.
The meeting was graced by deputy chief executive member of Bodoland Territorial Region, Gobinda Chandra Basumatary, BTR executive member Ranjit Basumatary, principal secretary Akash Deep, and other senior government officials from BTC, including block development officers (BDOs).
Deputy CEM Basumatary stated that the program was a commendable initiative for sharing knowledge and capacity building on the financing and development of Sixth Schedule councils.
