The Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC) is a territorial council established in Assam state of India according to the Memorandum of Settlement[1] of February 10, 2003. BTC came into existence immediately after surrender of Bodo Liberation Tigers Force(BLTF) cadres. The BLTF laid down their weapons on December 6, 2003 under the leadership of Hagrama Mohilary and Hagrama was sworn in as the Chief Executive Member (CEM) on December 7, 2003. The BTC has 46 executive members each looking after a specific area of control called somisthi. The area under the BTC jurisdiction is called the Bodoland Territorial Area District (BTAD). BTC constitutes 35% of marginalised Tribal groups like Bodos, Rabhas, Garos, etc. who are against the hegemony of Assam government. The region falls within the geographical map of least developed region in India. The agro-based economy is the only source of livelihood of the people. Industrialisation and other employment opportunities are scant.
The BTAD is to consist of four contiguous districts — Kokrajhar, Baksa, Udalguri and Chirang — carved out of seven existing districts — Kokrajhar, Bongaigaon, Barpeta, Nalbari, Kamrup, Darrang and Sonitpur — an area of 27,100 km² (35% of Assam).[2]That the BTAD is created under the sixth schedule of the Constitution of India has been opposed by some organizations. It may be noted that percentage of Bodo population in BTC area is less than 30%.[3]
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