The Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC) began its Budget Session for 2025–26 on Wednesday at the Legislative Council building in Kokrajhar. BTC Chief Executive Member (CEM) Pramod Boro presented a ₹843 crore budget proposal aimed at strengthening governance and public services across 40 departments. The session opened with anticipation as council members gathered to assess the fiscal roadmap laid out for the upcoming year. Boro emphasized the administration’s commitment to inclusive development, transparency, and a stronger institutional framework that responds effectively to the region’s evolving needs.
He declared that the budget seeks to address pressing challenges in education, healthcare, infrastructure, agriculture, and employment generation. The proposal also highlights capacity building for rural areas and improved delivery mechanisms for welfare schemes. The CEM assured the house that the administration had balanced financial prudence with ambitious targets that focus on grassroots-level transformation. He added that the BTC government would monitor progress closely and ensure that every rupee is spent wisely to benefit the region’s people.
The Opposition, however, did not extend full support to the proposal. Members raised concerns over what they described as inadequate fund allocation for certain key sectors like youth development and flood control. Several MLAs questioned the prioritization of projects and urged the leadership to take a more holistic view of the socio-economic issues affecting Bodo-populated areas. They warned against repeating previous budget cycles where planned outlays failed to fully translate into action on the ground.
Independent legislators also voiced dissatisfaction over what they called disproportionate funding for administrative activities while essential services like drinking water and skill development appeared to receive limited attention. The debate turned particularly heated when some MLAs accused the BTC administration of ignoring the most backward blocks in the council region. They said development had become skewed toward urban centers while rural communities continued to face marginalization.
Pramod Boro responded to the criticisms by saying that the budget reflected a realistic assessment of available resources and department-specific proposals. He assured members that the administration would consider suggestions and amend allocations if needed during mid-term reviews. Boro reminded the House that this budget came at a time when the council must strike a delicate balance between long-term planning and short-term resilience against economic uncertainty.
The debate also focused on employment and economic generation, with a few members demanding a dedicated fund to boost local entrepreneurship. They suggested the establishment of youth incubator centers and small-scale industrial hubs to reduce migration and unemployment. Some proposed that the BTC should tie up with national-level skill development missions and private sector stakeholders to tap into central resources more effectively.
In contrast, ruling party allies defended the proposal. They praised the budget’s emphasis on building roads in interior villages and expanding digital infrastructure to schools and health centers. They highlighted new provisions to modernize farming practices, promote agri-tech, and streamline food security systems. They also noted that the health department had received a comparatively higher share this year, reflecting the council’s post-pandemic recovery efforts.
Boro concluded the presentation by reminding the House that the budget would work only if departments carried out their mandates in a time-bound and result-oriented manner. He urged council members from all parties to put aside political differences and cooperate in implementation. He said development must remain the collective priority and that BTC’s future lay in bridging the divide between policy vision and execution on the ground.
As the session moved toward committee discussions and departmental presentations, it became clear that the ₹843 crore budget would undergo multiple layers of scrutiny. Whether it transforms into measurable progress will depend largely on the leadership’s ability to navigate both financial limitations and political differences in the days to come.
