Assam: Protection of tribal lands, Assamese & other indigenous languages stressed

Justice BK Sharma panel report

Staff Reporter

GUWAHATI: The high-level committee on clause VI of the Assam Accord led by Justice (retd) BK Sharma has made several recommendations for the protection of lands in tribal belts and blocks, and the protection of the Assamese and other indigenous languages of the state.

To protect lands in tribal belts and blocks, the high-level committee recommended that land tribunals be established at the district level for deciding in a time-bound manner in respect to complaints on alienation of lands in tribal belts and blocks. Land tribunals will identify and evict unauthorized and illegal occupants of such lands. Tribunals should be manned by competent judicial officers and officers having experience in dealing with land and revenue works.

The high-level committee recommended that the sar areas should be surveyed by taking a special programme. The newly created sar areas should be treated as government land, and erosion-affected people should get priority in the allotment of such lands.  

The high-level committee also recommended that statutory provisions prohibiting transfer of tea garden lands for any other use without permission of the state government must be strictly enforced.

The high-level committee also made a few recommendations for the protection of the Assamese and other languages of the indigenous committee of the state. The committee said that the Assam Official Language Act, 1960, be strictly implemented with necessary amendments for the insertion of panel provisions for violations of the Act. The Official Language Implementation Directorate shall be revived or reactivated and equipped with all necessary infrastructure and logistic support. It also recommended constituting an autonomous language and literature council to protect, preserve, and promote all indigenous languages of Assam, and the same should be headed by a distinguished literary person. The main objective of the council shall be to develop the indigenous languages for their spread and enrichment of their literature.

A multilingual central library for Assamese and other indigenous languages of the state shall be established. Provisions shall be made for teaching of indigenous languages, including Hmar, Kuki, Bishnupriya Manipuri, etc., as a subject for which necessary funds shall be provided by the Central Government.

The report said that mandatory provisions of an Assamese language paper shall be made applicable in each recruitment in state government services with necessary alternative provisions for Barak Valley districts, BTAD, and the hill districts as per the Assam Official Language Act, 1960. Knowledge of Assamese may be made preferential qualification for appointment in jobs in the central government, central PSUs, etc., and private sector for Assam.

Also Read: Assam: Tribal Villagers in Chirang District Seek CM's Intervention to Reclaim Lands from Illegal Occupants (sentinelassam.com)

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