Assam Cabinet approves Bodo as the official state language

Guwahati, Dec 24: The Assam Cabinet recently approved the bill to make Bodo an official language of the state. The bill has been framed in accordance to the Bodo Peace Accord signed between the Government of India, Assam Government, four Bodo rebel groups and two Bodo organizations.

 

The Bill is expected to be tabled in the next assembly session scheduled later this month, which would be the last session of the assembly before the polls expected in March-April 2021. The cabinet also approved to setup the Bodo Kachari Autonomous Council. This is also a part of Bodo Accord signed in Jan 2020.

 

The cabinet also approved to increase the service age of all National Health Mission employees to 60 years. The cabinet approved the Career Progression Scheme for doctors serving as faculty members in Assam medical colleges. The cabinet also approved a loan of 91 crores of rupees from NABARD under the Rural Infrastructure Development Fund.

 

According to Census 2011, there are more than 14.16 lakh people speaking Bodo language in the state of Assam. They account to 4.53 % of the total population of the state. The official language of Assam is Assamese. The additional official languages are Bengali and Bodo. Bengali is official language in three districts of Barak Valley and Bodo in Bodoland territorial Council areas.

 

In 1960, the Assam official language Act was passed recognizing Assamese as an official language in Assam. The act also included provisions for the safeguard of linguistic minorities in the state. In 2019, the Assam Cabinet approved to make Assamese the State Language.