Rajiv Bora

Commissioner and Secretary
Home and Political departments, Assam state, India
Focus Area(s)
Accountable Policing
Critical Tasks
External accountability
Integration and amalgamation
Interviewers
Rohan Mukherjee
Country of Reform
India
Town/City
Guwahati
Country
India
Date of Interview
Thursday, July 23, 2009
Abstract

Rajiv Bora discusses some of the major issues and challenges the Assam government faced in terms of law and order, counterinsurgency, and illegal immigration. The Indian state has confronted demographic pressures stemming from the migration of people from what is now Bangladesh. The state has also witnessed several insurgencies, including the United Front for the Liberation of Asom and the Bodo minority. Bora describes his role in monitoring and implementing ceasefire agreements with these groups. He talks about government decentralization efforts as well as steps to secure the India-Bangladesh border. These efforts included constructing a border fence, increasing the number of border outposts, establishing tribunals for foreigners, and creating a national registry of citizens. Bora also outlines the objectives and outcomes of the recently implemented Police Act and the institutional steps taken to reduce police excesses. He describes several tribal and communal conflicts and how the government responded. He also highlights the debate about the effectiveness of offering rehabilitation packages for extremists who have surrendered.

Case Study: Promoting Peace Through Development: Assam State, India, 2001-2009

Full Interview

50 MB
Rajiv Bora - Full Interview
Profile

At the time of this interview, Rajiv Bora was commissioner and secretary of the Home and Political departments for the government of Assam in India. From 1998 to 2003, he served as commissioner and secretary of finance, a position in which he dealt with state finances and managed fiscal reforms.

Keywords
Bangladesh
India
Assam
Not specified