As the Bodoland Territorial Region (BTR) prepares for the crucial polls on September 22, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has stepped up its campaign with a strong focus on youth empowerment, employment generation, and skill development. On Wednesday, September 17, Assam BJP president Dilip Saikia addressed gatherings in the region and highlighted the progress achieved under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma. Saikia underlined that the BJP’s vision for BTR rests on what he termed the “three Ts” — trade, training, and transformation. According to him, these pillars are creating new opportunities for young people and strengthening the foundations of a self-reliant Bodoland. “Bodoland is accelerating with trade, training, and transformation. Our youth are thriving. Over 20,097 young people have already been trained in diverse skills and thousands have found employment.
We are committed to building a developed and self-reliant BTR,” Saikia said during his campaign speech. Over the last four years, the region has witnessed an expansion in vocational training initiatives. Saikia informed that 15 new trades with 22 units have been introduced, all of which have been upgraded in line with the National Skills Qualification Framework (NSQF) and National Council for Vocational Training (NCVT) standards. This ensures that BTR’s youth are not only prepared for local job opportunities but are also equipped to compete at the national level. The Assam BJP chief pointed out that more than 20,000 youths across the BTR have already been trained in sectors ranging from construction to services, and the government has set a target to skill 50,000 young people in the coming years. A significant milestone in this journey has been the certification of 4,680 candidates under the Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL).
These candidates, skilled in trades such as electricians, plumbers, masons, and farmers, now have their expertise formally recognized — a move that opens the door to better wages and formal employment. Saikia further emphasized that the skill development programmes are not restricted to urban trades. Agriculture and allied activities have been integrated into the scheme, bringing direct benefits to rural families. 1,723 youths across the five districts of BTR have been trained in piggery, goat and sheep farming, and fish seed cultivation. These initiatives, he said, have enhanced household incomes while strengthening the rural economy. “The skill programmes are not just about jobs in cities. They are also about improving the lives of our farmers and rural families. Training in farming and allied activities ensures steady incomes while also contributing to the region’s food supply chain,” Saikia said.