STAFF REPORTER
GUWAHATI: The All Assam Tribal Sangha (AATS) has taken a slew of decisions, including a visit to the disputed interstate border stretches of Assam with the neighbouring states, seeking Mission Basundhara 3.0 for proper inclusion of NC (Non-Cadastral) villages under it, putting an end to the delay in the issuance of caste certificates through the Mission Bhumiputra App.
The AATS’ central executive committee met in Guwahati today. Speaking to The Sentinel after the meeting, AATS secretary general Aditya Khakhlari said, “Due to the lack of pragmatic steps by the Assam Government in resolving boundary issues with Meghalaya, Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, and Tripura, the fringe-dwelling tribal people of the state have to bear the brunt. Resolving interstate boundary disputes is the responsibility of the state and the central governments. Of late, the tribal people in the Jirikinding area in the West Karbi Anglong district bordering the Jaitia Hills in Meghalaya have suffered as miscreants from Meghalaya have encroached upon Assam land. Miscreants from the other side of the boundary have entered around ten kilometres inside Jirikinding and torched houses. An AATS team will pay an on-the-spot visit to Jirikinding on May 30.”
Raising the situation along the Arunachal Pradesh border, Khakhlari said, “The tribal people residing in the Tirap area at Margherita in the Tinsukia district have to face the wrath of miscreants from Arunachal Pradesh. The tribal population there, including Singphos, Tangsas, Semas, Sonowal Kacharis, Missings, and Deoris, has to spend days in uncertainty. They have to bear the brunt of the open-cast coal mining taking place in the area. An AATS team will visit the area after Jirikinding’s visit. We demand the creation of an autonomous council encompassing all these tribal populations in the area.”
He further said, “Despite the Assam Land and Revenue Regulation, 1886, remaining in force, the lands in tribal belts and blocks are not protected. Various industries owed by people belonging to the general class have sprung up in tribal belts and blocks. The government needs to stop this”.
On Mission Basundhara 2.0, Khakhlari said, “Mission Basundhara 2.0 could not cover a large number of tribal people as their NC lands have not been surveyed as yet. The government should survey the NC lands and start Mission Basundhara 3.0 to include all tribal people.”
On the delay in the issuance of caste certificates under the Mission Bhumiputra App, Khakhlari said, “Despite the submission of Aadhaar cards, father’s caste certificates, and identification by the AATS, the circle officers demand affidavits from the courts. It takes over four months to issue a certificate. The authorities need to remove such bureaucratic hassles in the issuance of caste certificates to make students take admission in a hassle-free manner.”
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