GUWAHATI
Tribal languages need more attention and funding to develop as a medium of instruction from schools to universities, Assam’s autonomous Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC) Chief Pramod Boro said on Friday (March 14).
The funds which tribal communities receive from the government for their development, including for education in their mother tongues, are not adequate, Mr. Boro said. He was addressing a four-day annual conference of the All Bodo Students’ Union (ABSU), of which he was the president for nine years before graduating to politics.
“The Right to Education has a provision for imparting education in the mother tongue. Tribal languages are becoming a medium of instruction in educational institutions but they need more attention for development,” he told a massive gathering at Bodofa Fwthar, near Kokrajhar, the headquarters of the BTC, which lies about 220 km west of Guwahati.
Error-prone textbooks
“Bodos have struggled for education in the mother tongue for a long time. Sadly, the textbooks in Bodo and other tribal languages continue to be inadequate and error-prone. We would like these to be rectified before the commencement of the new academic session,” said Mr. Boro, who is also the president of the United People’s Party Liberal (UPPL) and an architect of the 2020 Bodo Peace Accord.
The UPPL is one of two regional allies of the Bharatiya Janata Party in Assam.
Assam’s Education Minister Ranoj Pegu, who attended the conference as a special guest, acknowledged the ABSU’s role in shaping the State’s educational landscape.
“A collective effort toward a vibrant Bodo Territorial Region and Viksit Bharat is needed at the crossroads of development, the New Education Policy, and technological transformation. It is vital to align education with industry demands as the emphasis today is on skill development, entrepreneurship, and career independence,” he said.
Changing needs
ABSU’s current president Dipen Boro also underscored the need for continuous investment in education and leadership growth.
“The evolution of education must be in sync with the changing needs of students and demands of the future. It is imperative to create opportunities that empower the youth with the knowledge, skills, and guidance needed to succeed,” he said.
He added that the conference, which is dedicated to Bodofa Upendra Nath Brahma, was an endeavour to turn ideas into practical solutions. Bodofa, which can be translated as Guardian of the Bodos, spearheaded the Bodoland statehood movement in the 1980s and 1990s, which led to the creation of the BTC.
The conference, featuring a series of lectures and seminars, brought together academicians, scientists, policymakers, and community and cultural leaders. The discussions revolved around education, youth leadership and cultural preservation.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah is scheduled to attend the conclusion of the conference on Sunday.
