GUWAHATI, September 23: Altogether 57 poachers of the Raimona National Park laid down their weapons to Assam’s Bodoland Territorial Region (BTR) on the occasion of World Rhino Day on Wednesday.
The poachers also laid down 40 various weapons along with ammunition and various animal organs that they had collected by killing animals in the park.
“Handed over Rs. 50,000 ex-gratia & assured two handloom clusters to 57 poachers who surrendered their arms at a ceremony at Rhaimona National Park on World Rhino Day today. Our govt. is committed to taking every possible step to make ‘Poaching free BTR’,” BTR chief Pramod Boro said in a tweet.
Handed over Rs. 50,000 ex-gratia & assured two handloom clusters to 57 poachers who surrendered their arms at a ceremony at Rhaimona National Park on World Rhino Day today.
— Pramod Boro (@PramodBoroBTR) September 22, 2021
Our govt. is committed to take every possible step to make 'Poaching free BTR'.@narendramodi @AmitShah pic.twitter.com/MDh5LGujOT
The surrender ceremony is a sequel to the appeals of the BTR authorities to the poachers for coming to the mainstream leaving their traditional profession and giving them a new way of livelihood.
The poachers have been presented with a cheque of Rs 50,000 each to help sustain their livelihood.
“57 poachers surrendered along with arms in a village near Raimona National Park. They were given cheques of Rs 50,000 each. More financial support is to be given. We urge others to surrender,” Boro told reporters.
Raimona in Kokrajhar district was declared as the sixth national park on World Environment Day on June 5, 2021, by Assam’s chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma at Gandhi Mandap, Guwahati.
On June 9, 2021; it became a National Park through an Assam Gazette Notification no. FRW. 02/2021/27.
“Ever since Raimona has been declared to be a national park, the poachers do not want to hunt anymore and are therefore surrendering. To honor their step and to protect their livelihood, we are planning to further give an amount of Rs 1.20 lakh for setting up a new business,” Boro said.
Boro further informed that two handloom factories will also be set up in the area to offer employment.
