Dispur assured us of protecting tribal land: CCTOA

STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI: WPT & BC Minister Ranuj Pegu has assured CCTOA (Coordination Committee of the Tribal Organizations of Assam) of implementing Chapter X of the Assam Land and Revenue Regulation Act. The Act entails the protection of the interests of certain backward classes in an area constituted into a belt and block.

A team of the CCTOA met WPT & BC Minister Dr Pegu today and submitted their seven-point charter of demands. They had a detailed discussion on various issues concerning tribal people.

Talking to The Sentinel after the meeting, CCTOA chief coordinator Aditya Khakhlari said, "The government assured us of fulfilling our demands. The government has not implemented Chapter X of the Assam Land and Revenue Regulation Act for the past 70 years. This chapter is crucial for tribal people. The minister assured us of implementing it.

"He also assured us of making encroached lands in tribal belts and blocks free from encroachers, besides surveying such lands by using drones. He further assured us that the government would settle people belonging to backward classes to such lands under their possession for years.

"On our demand for withdrawal of the Cabinet decision on revocation of Clause 17.5 of the Assam Land Policy, 2019, the minister said that the Cabinet had not taken any such decision. As per the 2019 policy, government permission was a must for land transfer in the tribal belts and blocks. If the government revokes this provision, some unscrupulous elements may take the advantage and misuse tribal land."

Khakhlari said, "The WPT & BC Department has already formed a committee with Minister Dr Pegu as the chairman and Minister of the Welfare of Bodoland Department as co-chairman. The committee has senior-most secretaries of five departments, the commissioner and secretary of BPT&BC and two CCTOA representatives as members. The commission will study various issues concerning the tribal people of the state and hold discussions with us to find amicable solutions to the problems."

The CCTOA called off its proposed protest on November 22, 2021.

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