Assam: Venture school teachers protest in Kokrajhar, demand provincialization under Bodo Peace Accord

Hundreds of teachers from venture elementary schools in the Bodoland Territorial Region (BTR) staged a massive sit-in demonstration in Kokrajhar on Monday, June 30, demanding provincialization of their schools in accordance with Clause 6.3 of the BTR Peace Accord signed in 2020.

The protest, organized under the banner of the All BTR Venture Elementary Teachers Association, took place at the premises of Kokrajhar Government Higher Secondary School and MP playground. Teachers held placards and banners while chanting slogans against the Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC) and the Assam Government, accusing them of betraying the assurances made under the peace accord.

The demonstrators alleged that despite nearly five years having passed since the signing of the Bodo Peace Accord, the commitment to provincialize all venture schools in the region remains unfulfilled.

“We have dedicated our lives to educating students in venture schools for years. As per Clause 6.3 of the BTR Peace Accord, these schools were supposed to be provincialized. However, successive governments have ignored our plight,” said Umesh Chandra Mandal, President of the All BTR Venture Elementary Teachers Association.

Mandal warned that if the government fails to act swiftly, the teachers would intensify their agitation. He further added that the protest may escalate into a political campaign in the run-up to the BTC elections, with slogans like “Pramod Boro Hatao, BTC Bachao” (Remove Pramod Boro, Save BTC).

The agitating teachers also urged both the BTC administration and the Assam government to take immediate steps to fulfill the commitment and secure the future of thousands of educators and students depending on these institutions.