STAFF REPORTER
GUWAHATI: More than a hundred supporters of Bhumi Adhikar Sangram Samiti, Asom, gathered at VIP Road protest ground, Chachal, here in the city on Friday to protest against the State Government’s new land policy.
President of the Samiti, Prabinjyoti Kalita slammed the Government and accused the ruling party of “blatantly disregarding” the indigenous people of the State. “This Government is disinterested in allocating land to the indigenous. They are more anxious about providing land for the industrialists. As per a new policy passed by the Cabinet recently, three bighas of land are to be allocated to the landless, however, the policy itself is rather vague,” said Kalita.
Kalita further added, “It was announced a while back that the landless farmers will receive eight bighas of land, however, this policy was later amended by the Government. 65,000 families are residing in the hilly areas of Kamrup (M) and 20,000 families in the plains. Although these families have been residing in the same place for decades, the Government has still not been able to secure land pattas for these indigenous people.”
The Samiti demanded for a new land policy where all the indigenous people residing in the State for long years, are provided with land in the same spot of their current residence.