STAFF REPORTER
GUWAHATI: To ensure that no indigenous applicant is left out of Mission Basundhara 2.0, the State Government has included two representatives from the people and a divisional forest officer (DFO) in each of the SDLACs (Sub-Divisional Land Advisory Committees). Revenue and Disaster Management Minister Jogen Mohan informed the State Assembly of this today.
Every subdivision has an SDLAC for approving allotments and settlements of land. The government takes decisions based on the reports of SDLACs, who scrutinize every application.
Congress MLA Nurul Huda moved a private member resolution in the State Assembly today alleging a discriminatory approach by a section of government officials in land settlement. He demanded equal opportunities for all in land settlement.
Responding to the allegation, Jogen Mohan said, “The government has launched Mission Basundhara 2.0 to ensure land rights to the indigenous people of the state. We have received 13,39,390 applications. We need to dispose of all these applications by November 14, 2023. SDLACs will play a significant role in disposing of the applications. They will conduct field visits and take decisions to ensure land rights belong to the indigenous people of the state. We have included two local people and the DFO concerned in the SDLACs, apart from deputy commissioners, additional deputy commissioners, circle officers, and others. One of the prime purposes of this mission is to ensure land rights for the tribal people. Earlier, tribal people could get land settlement for up to 1+7 (homestead + arable) bighas of land. We have amended it and decided to allot up to 50 bighas of land to them if they have.”
He said, “We will give settlement in PGR (Professional Grazing Reserve) and VGR (Village Grazing Reserve) in Mission Basundhara 2.0. Only the applicants should have government documentation that they are staying on such lands. There may be phase 3 of Mission Basundhara to dispose of critical land-related issues.”
MLA Huda expressed his hope that the government would view all equally while giving land settlement. He withdrew his resolution.
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