Question : FUNDS TO BTAD

(a) whether the Government has earmarked a separate Central fund under the Non Lapsable Central Pool of Resources (NLCPR) for the Bodoland Territorial Areas District (BTAD) from the current financial year;

(b) if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor;

(c) whether the Government proposes to provide the Central funds directly to the Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC) administration without channelising the funds through the State Government of Assam in order to speed up the pace of developmental works;

(d) if so, the details thereof; and

(e) the time by which it is likely to be implemented?

MINISTER OF STATE (I/C) FOR THE MINISTRY OF DEVELOPMENT OF NORTH EASTERN REGION (SHRI PABAN SINGH GHATOWAR)

(a) to (e) A statement is laid on the Table of the House.

STATEMENT IN REPLY TO LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 278 RAISED BY SHRI SANSUMA KHUNGGUR BWISWMUTHIARY, M.P. FOR 24TH APRIL, 2012, REGARDING FUNDS TO BTAD.

There is no proposal to earmark separate funds, under NLCPR for BTAD, from current financial year.

However, as per Memorandum of Settlement (MoS) signed in 2003, between Government of India, Government of Assam and Bodo Liberation Tigers (BLT), Government of India had agreed to provide financial assistance of Rs. 100 crore per annum for 5 years, i.e. total Rs. 500 crore, for projects to develop socio – economic infrastructure in Bodo Territorial Council (BTC) areas over and above normal plan assistance to State of Assam. Over and above this, Hon’ble Prime Minister announced ‘Additional BTC Package of Rs. 250 crore’, for BTAD in August 2008.

Funds under NLCPR scheme and BTC Package are provided to Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC) administration, through Government of Assam.