Assam CM provides financial aid to surrendered NDFB cadres
21 Jan 2021 18:41:45
Guwahati, Jan 21: The Assam Chief Minister Sarbanada Sonowal recently provided Rs 4 lakh to around 1,279 surrendered cadres of National Democratic Front of Bodoland. Out of 1,615 members of all 4 NDFB surrendered factions, 1,279 were provided Rs 4 lakh of fixed term deposit certificates each. Chief Minister Sonowal urged the former militants to make a fresh start in life and assured that the Centre and Assam state govt as well as Bodoland Territorial Council Administration, along with the people would always extend their support in this endeavour.
The Chief Minister called them to utilize the financial assistance judiciously and said that fixed term deposit certificates provided on the occasion would enable them to take bank loans for agriculture, livestock farming as well as setting small industries. CM Sonowal assured of giving necessary directions to banks from administration for the purpose while providing skill development training to the financial assistance recipients.
The National Democratic Front of Bodoland is an armed separatist group that seeks to obtain sovereign Bodoland for the Bodo people. The Government of India has designated the National Democratic Front of Bodoland as the terrorist organisation. The NDFB is a militant group that was created in 1986. The group has conducted several attacks targeting non-Bodo civilians. The NDFB mainly targets Munda, Santhal and Oraon tribes. These tribal people were brought to Assam as tea labourer by Britishers.
In 1990s, the NDFB established twelve camps along the Bhutan-Assam border. The Bhutan Government launched Operation All Clear to drive away them from Bhutan border. The Indian Government launched Operation Bajrang and Operation Rhino against the Assam separatist groups. The Bodo Peace Accord, 2020 was signed between All Bodo Students Union, Assam Government and the National Democratic Front of Bodoland. Following the accord, the GoI announced Rs 1,500 crore package for Bodo Areas of Assam.
Bodos are the single largest tribal community of Assam and comprise of around 5 to 6 per cent of the state’s population. They are a part of the Bodo-Kachari family spread across the North East India.