CM Himanta Biswa Sarma's intervention sought over Mission Basundhara 2.0

STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI: In view of numerous tribal persons facing difficulty in submitting applications under Mission Basundhara 2.0, two prominent tribal organizations of the state have requested the intervention of Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma for resolving the issue.

The All Assam Tribal Sangha (AATS) and the Coordination Committee of Tribal Organizations, Assam (CCTOA) submitted a letter to the Chief Minister on Wednesday and requested an appointment to discuss the issue.

Talking to The Sentinel on Thursday, AATS' general secretary Aditya Khakhlari said that although there is a welcome provision for granting land rights for up to 50 bighas of hereditary land to tribal applicants under Mission Basundhara 2.0, but most of the applications regarding 50 bighas of hereditary land are not being accepted by the online portal opened by the government. Instead, only applications for up to one bigha of residential land and up to seven bighas of agricultural land are being accepted by the online portal, he said. He pointed out that the government had amended the Land Policy of 2019 to ensure that tribal applicants can get up to 50 bighas of hereditary land, but the tribal people would remain deprived if the online portal problem is not rectified.

Khakhlari further said that there is also a criterion that applicants for 50 bighas of hereditary land will have to furnish proof about continuous possession of the land in question for three generations (75 years). However, Khakhlari said that they are requesting the Chief Minister to relax this criterion because the tribal people of Assam by and large do not have old land-related documents.

Meanwhile, 3,32,214 people have submitted online applications under Mission Basundhara 2.0 as of Thursday afternoon. The application process will continue till March 31 next. Applications are being made under the www.rtps.assam.gov.in portal. The Chief Minister had launched the scheme on November 14 last.

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