< Previous 59Chapter 7 This digital transformation—integrating land services onto online platforms—has not only streamlined administrative processes but has also instilled greater public confidence in the system. Continuous capacity-building programs for officials ensure that the latest technology is effectively harnessed to provide reliable and prompt services. As disputes over land ownership diminish, the resultant clarity and transparency are fostering an environment of trust and collective progress. The modern digital backbone of land services is a testament to the region’s commitment to redefining governance for a sustainable future. Through projects like Mission Bwiswmuthi 2.0, our BTR Government have attempted to reduce historical inequities while promoting a cohesive local, regional as well as national identity. This alignment with broader national aspirations is further reinforced by the strategic integration of digital tools, making the land reform process more efficient and accessible to every eligible family. In doing so, Bodoland is not only correcting decades of oversight but is also setting a benchmark for other regions governed by the Sixth Schedule of the Indian Constitution. These sweeping reforms in the Bodoland Region resonate deeply with the integrated vision of growth as articulated by the Hon’ble Prime Minister of India Shri Narendra Modi Ji. His universal call to “Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas, Sabka Prayaas” is the approach that our BTR Government has tried to embody with sincerity and commitment. This inclusive development model will surely lead us to achieve the vision for a Viksit Bharat @ 2047. Land is not to be seen only as a commodity; it is the bedrock upon which the dignity of a community is built. In so doing, BTR Government has helped secure land rights for every eligible family, effectively reducing long-standing disputes, restricting unauthorized encroachments, and minimizing instances of land fraud. This in turn has had far-reaching socioeconomic implications. 60Chapter 7 Thus, communities have been assured of their fundamental right to the land they have historically depended upon. This is already ensuring a ripple effect across education, health, and economic productivity in our region. Restored land rights have enhanced confidence, mutual trust and a deep sense of healing, thus, paving the way for peace, harmonious co-existence and sustainable local development. In BTR, families who previously grappled with insecure tenure are now empowered to invest in their properties, cultivate crops with renewed confidence, and contribute robustly to local economic initiatives. The trust engendered by a transparent land governance system has uplifted entire communities, paving the way for a future where they are able to dream, see visions and co-exist where development is both inclusive and self-sustaining. Bodoland’s advances in land reform underscore a commitment to crafting not only a secure present but also a resilient future. The comprehensive reforms have positioned the Bodoland Territorial Council as a pioneer among the various Sixth Schedule Councils across India. The drive towards technological integration, when combined with an earnest effort to redress historical injustices, exemplifies a modern model of governance. This model is characterized by transparency in service delivery, an agile administrative framework, and an unflinching commitment to citizen empowerment. As Bodoland envisages to become a model of “Peaceful, Smart and Green” development, the established institutions are continuously evolving to meet the dynamic needs of the population. These initiatives are not isolated projects but are interconnected facets of a larger vision—a vision that aims to secure land rights as a pathway to a dignified and prosperous future. The evolution of land reforms in the Bodoland Region is more than an administrative exercise; it is a reaffirmation of human dignity and the timeless belief that every individual deserves a secure stake in the future. By reimagining age-old practices through modern 61Chapter 7 technology and inclusive policies, Bodoland is not only resolving historical inequities but is also laying down a robust foundation for a resilient socio-economic landscape. The journey has just begun, and to forge a future of enduring dignity, prosperity, and unity, BTR Government will leave no stone unturned in the coming days.Ever since the signing of the Bodo Peace Accord on the 27 th of January 2020, there has been no looking back for the people of Bodoland Territorial Region. Like the rare “Aha” moment in one’s life, this Peace Accord came by as a true ‘moment of lift’ for the people of our region. Like the shriveled-up plants after a prolonged drought, our parents, children and youth relished the drops and torrents that came pouring in. Our parched and dry spirits were reinvigorated, hopes were rekindled and lives were defragmented for the first time in decades. All of a sudden, people saw a rainbow of possibilities for establishing peace and stability in our region. It came as a true blessing: a moment of time in our collective histories that beckoned the end of the old ways of violence and terror, and the dawning of a new epoch of peace, sustainable development and happiness. Social and psychological healing can take place only when a condition for peace is created and sustained. The Bodo Peace Accord 2020 has already created and sustained one. How true it is that in defining moments of history, such as the one we experienced in 2020, paths of individuals and communities are crossed, thereby providing the scope and arena for collective envisioning of a common destiny. While one may say that peace does not mean mere absence of conflict, it is also true that peace 8 132 nd Durand Cup in Bodoland— an Uplifting Confluence of Peace and Sports 64Chapter 8 can prevail only when fear is absent from the minds of people. The people of the Bodoland Territorial Region have indeed chosen well: choosing peace in place of conflict and violence. Sink or swim, the people have hit the road running. In this way, within a couple of years, we have had rich dividends come our way: our children, young men and women have begun to walk their dreams, rebuild lives and revitalize communities. The Bodoland Territorial Region has always been full of potentials, hopes and bright futures. Unfortunately, the creative potentials and talents were horribly stifled and suffocated for generations as a result of the internecine conflicts that ruled the roost for generations. Bright dreams and visions came to a sorrowful waste as thousands of lives perished to bullets and mortar. Others spent the most productive phases of their lives in uncertainty and seemingly endless gloom. There was a dark cloud hovering permanently over our physical and mental spaces. One cannot but shiver and shudder to think about the bygone years when our pristine and undulating lands were stained by the blood of so many innocent lives. The horrors of those piercing wails and screams continue to haunt us to this very day. Every passing day had brought rueful news of arrests, kidnappings, rapes, death(s) and property damage through gunfire, bomb blasts or other forms of violence. We have had to weep continuously. On occasions when brothers and sisters from our communities fell, and also on occasions when our Jawans fell. How could we be immune to grief in sorrowful times. There was no rest and respite from pain for any one of us during conflict years. In Bodoland alone, we lost over 5000 persons. Many of our women continue to live as widows and we have so many children who were orphaned during the conflict. However, the 132 nd Durand Cup Football Tournament being held from 5-24 August 2023 at Kokrajhar- the City of Peace once again lifts our spirits and reinvigorates our march towards peace and 65Chapter 8 stability. This opportune event provides us the unique platform to redeem peoples’ faith, hope and vitality. As culture and sports are unifying elements, it is only right that sports have shaped up in a great way in BTR. The Indian Army has played a big role here. In bringing football to our region, they have endorsed our efforts in peace building. It is a blessing that our Army Jawans are not only protecting our borders with their lives, but also playing very constructive role in social development of the youth across the country by providing them training, career counselling, sporting opportunities, Bharat Darshan and the like. Presently, what more could we have hoped and prayed for than the august footfall of Hon’ble Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh Ji, Hon’ble Karmayogi Chief Minister of Assam Dr Himanta Biswa Sarma Ji, AIFF President Shri Kalyan Chaubey Ji, dignitaries from Government of India and Government of Assam, and the valiant stalwarts from the Indian Army in our humble city of Kokrajhar. Seven top teams from India and another from Nepal have been locking horns for reaching the covetous quarterfinal slot here. The display of skills in the thrilling line-up of matches have been uplifting sights to behold. This event has taken us many steps forward in realizing the great vision of our Hon’ble Prime Minister of India Shri Narendra Modi Ji “to make fitness an integral part of our daily lives” through the flagship KHELO INDIA! It is a beckoning to one and all to join his clarion call to “reform, perform and transform!” Football is a glorious game of sports; it is loved and has been played for ages in India and abroad. Recently, the theme: “Football is in our blood, Unity is our Goal” had reverberated across BTR and Northeast India during the high-voltage Inter Sixth Schedule Premier League (ISPL 2022) matches played out in all the four districts of BTR. Today, I can already see that the 132 nd Durand Cup matches have inspired all of us, particularly our youth and children, to love football and other sports even more dearly, thereby, building a happy, healthy and wealthy BTR. 66Chapter 8 More recently, the CEm Cup 2025 has emerged as a transformative force in the Bodoland Territorial Region, once again, symbolizing a profound shift from decades of conflict to a vibrant culture of peace and unity. With participation from over 3,700 teams and nearly 70,000 players, including a significant number of young women, the tournament has galvanized communities across Kokrajhar, Chirang, Baksa, Udalguri, and Tamulpur. More than a sporting event, it has become a celebration of collective aspiration, offering youth a platform to showcase talent, build camaraderie, and reclaim public spaces once marked by mistrust. The tournament’s inclusive structure—from village-level matches to council finals—has fostered grassroots engagement and civic pride, while spotlighting Bodoland’s emergence as a national hub for football excellence. As Prime Minister Narendra Modi Ji noted in the 123 rd episode of Maan Ki Baat, while addressing the nation that, the CEM Cup is “not just a tournament; it has become a celebration of unity and hope.”Originally published in The Eastern Chornicle, In a move to reclaim the greatness of Indian civilization as a developed and prosperous nation among all nations of the world, Prime Minister Modi Ji has already sounded the conch and given the clarion call- Vikshit Bharat @ 2047! This visionary call posits the widest participation of all institutions, organizations and personnel to redeem the greatness of Bharat. This call is an inspiration for one and all in the country to relentlessly pursue the dream of achieving a Sashakt Bharat. It calls every one of us- every citizen, family, community, civil society organization and corporate house of Bharat to work in synchrony to achieve a glorious end! Under the leadership of our Hon’ble Prime Minister Modi Ji, the Bodo Peace Accord 2020 had provided an opportune platform for the establishment of sustainable peace, harmony and integrity in the Bodoland region. It brought to an end the dark days of violence, killings and pervasive hatred among and between communities of the region. Further, the continued guidance of Home Minister Shri Amit Shah Ji, and the hard work of Chief Minister of Assam Karmayogi Dr. Himanta Biswa Sarma Ji, have gifted the Bodoland region with the time and the opportunity to rebuild, heal, and take the first steps for lasting peace, harmony and development! 9 Community Visioning in BtR for a Viksit Bharat @ 2047 68Chapter 9 What a privilege it is for every one of us in the Bodoland region, even from the remote Indo-Bhutan border areas, to partake in this magnificent and unprecedented journey towards the Vikshit Bharat @ 2047! Earlier, the challenges faced by the people of BTR had demanded a proactive and empathetic approach from policymakers. Acknowledging the peoples’ grievances and aspirations was essential for fostering trust and building sustainable peace. In this scheme of things, key steps included delivery of participatory governance, equitable development, conflict resolution mechanisms, education and awareness, among others. Thus, the Bodoland Territorial Region (BTR) Government initiated a participatory visioning exercise among 26 different communities residing in BTR, involving over 70 different organizations, agencies and institutions, each spearheading and voicing their respective community’s aspirations. By engaging with them in ways that honour relationality, respect and dignity of all individuals and communities, this Community Vision for BTR project crystallized a collective vision that transects towards acknowledging, documenting and resolving the long- standing issues and unmet aspirations of all the communities. As part of the flagship Bodoland Happiness Mission, this initiative reflected the Council Government’s steadfast commitment to fostering sustainable peace, promoting healing, and addressing the enduring scars of over four decades of conflict and violence. Why community? Taking the ‘community’ approach was necessitated by the fact that India, with its rich cultural and social diversity, is a nation that thrives on the strength and unity of its communities. Encouraging and empowering communities is not only vital for preserving this diversity but also essential for fostering progress and harmony within the country. Communities form the foundation of India’s identity. From traditional practices to modern collaborations, communities embody the shared histories, values, and aspirations of their members. Their collective spirit contributes Next >