Beyond their traditional roles of managing government programs, delivering services, and overseeing projects, the Village Council Development Committees (VCDCs) across Assam’s Bodoland Territorial Region (BTR) have taken on an exciting new mission: identifying and nurturing budding sports talent. They’re not just administrators; they’re becoming vital catalysts for local athletic development.
The BTR, an area composed of five districts situated along the Bhutan border, operates under the governance of the Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC).
Roughly a year ago, the BTC government initiated an ambitious project aimed at positioning the BTR as a leading hub for grassroots sports development in India. This involved enlisting the VCDCs to actively seek out promising athletes and establish an environment where their skills could flourish, starting with football, the region’s most beloved sport.
Following extensive planning and significant financial and infrastructural backing from the BTR government, the inaugural multi-tiered Bodoland Chief Executive Member Cup festival was held in June. This innovative tournament featured village teams from each of the BTR’s five districts: Baksa, Chirang, Kokrajhar, Tamulpur, and Udalguri.
Swmdwn Muchahary, the Council Head of Department (Sports), explained the inclusive structure: ‘The best teams from the VCDC-level tournaments advanced to compete at the BTC constituency level. Victors from there then moved on to district-level competitions, ultimately vying for the prestigious council-level cup. This tiered approach guaranteed broad participation and easy access to sports at every stage, from the smallest villages to the highest council tiers.’
The football festival was a resounding success, attracting an astounding 3,760 teams and 67,680 players, with nearly half being girls and women. This remarkable initiative even earned praise from Prime Minister Narendra Modi during one of his monthly radio addresses, where he highlighted it as a testament to ‘unity and hope.’
The mention of ‘unity’ specifically referred to the diverse ethnic makeup of the BTR, a region that once experienced communal tensions. Today, it proudly hosts 26 distinct ethnic and religious communities.
Investing in Top-Tier Facilities
While the BTR has long been a source of exceptional athletic talent, producing numerous footballers, archers, boxers, and sprinters for Assam, the region historically suffered from a lack of proper training and development facilities. This deficit was largely a consequence of its past struggles with extremism and political unrest.
However, this situation began to transform in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. The BTR government, in collaboration with both State and Central agencies, embarked on a mission to establish modern sports training centers, rehabilitation facilities, and advanced stadiums.
Mr. Muchahary noted the remarkable evolution: ‘What started as humble, locally organized competitions has blossomed into a comprehensive, coordinated effort. This initiative now integrates extensive community engagement, expert coaching, cutting-edge sports science, and large-scale participation events.’
Essentially, the VCDCs acted as the ‘gardeners’ on the ground, planting the initial seeds of athletic potential and nurturing them until they were ready to be handed over to higher-level specialists for further development.
This commitment to superior infrastructure led to the opening of the High-Performance Sports Training and Rehabilitation Centre in Kokrajhar in mid-2025. This facility, the third of its kind in Assam, was developed through a partnership between state sports authorities and corporate entities. It provides comprehensive services including advanced injury management, biomechanical and physiological assessments, tailored nutritional support, and cutting-edge recovery programs.
In addition to establishing a FIFA-standard football ground in Kokrajhar, complete with a sand-based drainage and sprinkler system (a pioneering achievement in the northeastern region), the BTC government also launched a ₹180 crore sports academy in Udalguri. Further academies are currently under development.
To further enrich the sporting landscape, the council government ingeniously blended modern sports with traditional indigenous festivals. Events like the annual Baokhungri, celebrated just before the mid-April Bihu or its Bodo equivalent, Bwisagu, now incorporate a range of adventure sports, making these celebrations truly gender-inclusive.