A Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC) delegation has submitted a memorandum to Union defence minister Rajnath Singh with a proposal for creating a special regiment of the Territorial Army for the youths of the council area to join the defence forces.

The high-level delegation headed by BTC chief, Pramod Boro, met Singh in Delhi on Friday and submitted the memorandum, the details of which have not been shared.

An official statement issued on Saturday said that Boro flagged the “active and spirited participation of the youth from the Bodoland Territorial Region (BTR) in recruitment rallies and other initiatives organised by the Indian Armed Forces” while proposing the creation of the special Territorial Army regiment named as the “Territorial Army Home and Hearth Battalion” for the BTR, which comprises five districts — Kokrajhar, Baksa, Chirang, Udalguri and Tamulpur in Assam.

The Territorial Army is a part-time military reserve force supporting the regular army and also assisting the civil administration in tackling natural disasters and emergencies.

Boro said the initiative would offer a “dedicated platform for the region’s youth” to join the defence forces and “contribute” to the nation’s security. This will also “inspire greater participation while fostering a deep sense of patriotism and national pride” among the youths of BTR, which was once a hotbed of militancy.

Peace has ensued in the region following the signing of the Bodo Peace Accord in 2020 which saw over 1,600 militants join the mainstream.

The Territorial Army (TA) Recruitment Rallies held between November 22 and 26 in Kokrajhar had to be extended by a day given the overwhelming response.

BTC chief Boro had then posted on X: “I was immensely happy to have been present at the inaugural ceremony of the Territorial Army Recruitment Rallies in BTR this morning. Delighted to see such a huge turnout of young boys raring to join the TA and serve the nation.”

Singh appreciated the “commitment of the BTR government to encouraging the region’s youth and assured due consideration” of the proposal. The meeting marks a significant step toward fostering the region’s integration with national defence initiatives, the statement said.