The 15th Assam Assembly’s budget session opened on Monday with a spotlight on the development of the Sixth Schedule areas. Legislators from both the government and opposition engaged in an intense debate lasting several hours. A significant exchange occurred between Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and Raijor Dal leader Akhil Gogoi, who criticized the state government for reducing the budget for the Bodoland Territorial Region (BTR) in 2025. Gogoi pointed out that while the BTR budget was Rs 680 crore in 2020-21 and should have naturally increased to Rs 1,095 crore by 2025 with a 10% annual increment, it was instead cut down to Rs 800 crore.
Gogoi also urged the state to request increased central funding for Karbi Anglong and Dima Hasao. In response, Chief Minister Sarma accused Gogoi of inciting unrest during the session. Sarma explained that funds would directly reach the Sixth Schedule areas following the 125th Constitutional Amendment Bill, benefiting Assam, Tripura, Manipur, and Meghalaya. He also mentioned the creation of 60 additional seats in the BTR and the transformation of various VC and DC offices into municipal bodies to ensure broader participation.
Minister Nandita Gorlosa praised the Indigenous and Tribal Faith and Culture department, highlighting its role in promoting sustainable practices amid the global climate crisis. Meanwhile, Leader of Opposition Debabrata Saikia expressed concerns about the inadequacy of Sixth Schedule provisions, citing the insufficient budget for these areas in the Union Budget 2025-26, despite a rise in Dima Hasao’s allocation. Saikia raised alarms over land diversion from indigenous uses to industrialization, emphasizing that additional measures are needed to protect indigenous communities.
Original Source: https://assamtribune.com/assam/assam-budget-day-1-discussion-over-6th-schedule-funding-dominate-session-1568523
Category : Assam,Featured
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Publish Date: 2025-02-17 19:01:00
