New Delhi: Election Commissioner Hari Shankar Brahma on Saturday asserted that the demand for a separate state of Bodoland is a "far cry" as the region is lagging behind in socio-economic development.
Speaking at the sidelines of the Silver Jubilee celebration of Bodo freshers programme at Delhi University, the Commissioner pointed out the abject backwardness, socio- economically, low literacy rates and poor infrastructure in the Western Assam region.
According to a survey by All Bodo students Union (ABSU), the community has 40 per cent literacy rate and even lower female literacy rate of 25 per cent.
"The Bodoland state even if commissioned will not be enjoyed by the needy due to lack of abled human resources amongst the community," he said.
The Bodo movement was started by the community in late 1980s to demand a separate state citing step motherly treatment by Assam.
PTI
