Kokrajhar, Dec. 6: Adivasi Seva Samity chairman Badan Hasda, who is among the two non-Bodos in the 12-member interim Bodoland Territorial Area District (BTAD) Council, today oozed confidence in the new administrative set-up. ?The new administrative set-up would go a long way in meeting the hopes and aspirations of the local populace by ushering in development,? the Adivasi leader said.
Reviewing rehabilitation schemes at the Joypur relief camp in Kokrajhar district today, Hasda said, ?As a non-Bodo and more so as an Adivasi leader, I believe the democratic and political rights of non-Bodos will remain intact. If we continue the process of understanding, we can achieve everything. Understanding is a prerequisite for any kind of development.?
Listing his priorities, Hasda said he, as an executive member of the council, would first ensure the speedy and proper rehabilitation of the inmates living in relief camps in Kokrajhar, Bongaigaon and Dhubri districts.
There are nearly 1.5 lakh Bodos and Adivasis residing in relief camps since 1996, he said.
Hasda said he would try to convince the All Adivasi Students Association of Assam (AASAA) to take part in the development activities in the greater interest of the community. ?Instead of opposing the new council, the AASAA should join hands so that the community can benefit from it. The Bodoland area is very backward and we should all join the BTAD council to make it successful. The AASAA, being an influential students? body of the community, should come and take the benefit,? he observed.
Hasda appealed to the National Democratic Front of Boroland (NDFB) to come forward for talks and join the process of peace and development in Bodoland.
Admitting that the interim council faced an uphill task to bring about development, he said, ?It will have to instil confidence among all sections or else there will be no development as desired. But I am sure the Adivasis and the Bodos, who had suffered enough suffering, know what to do ? that is to work unitedly. If they don?t come forward themselves, nobody would come forward to help them.?