Implement Gauhati High Court order, says tribals' convention

 Freeing land from encroachment

STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI: A special convention of tribal organizations of Assam, held under the aegis of the All Assam Tribal Sangha (AATS), has adopted a resolution demanding expeditious implementation of the Gauhati High Court's order for making the tribal belts and tribal blocks of the State free from encroachment by individuals and industries.

The convention was held at the premises of the Assam Cultural Trust at Machkhowa here.

Talking to The Sentinel after the convention, AATS secretary general Aditya Khakhlari said that a person named Pradyut Kumar Bora had filed a PIL in the Gauhati High Court, on the basis of which the court ordered that all tribal belts and tribal blocks should be freed from encroachment. The court had even directed the Deputy Commissioners concerned to implement the order within a specific time frame.

Khakhlari said that over 4 lakh bighas of tribal land in the State are under encroachment by individuals and industries. However, despite the High Court's order, no step has been taken to evict the encroachers.

Today's convention also adopted a resolution demanding a survey of land under occupation of tribal people and subsequent grant of land pattas to these people. It also demanded grant of land rights under the ST and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006 to tribal people living in and around forest areas.

The convention further demanded that the Assam SC and ST (Reservation of Vacancies in Services and Posts) (Amendment) Act, 2012 be implemented via a special recruitment policy to fill up 12,155 backlog posts in various Government departments.

The tribal organizations also demanded Constitutional recognition for all autonomous councils lawfully established in the State.

The convention was attended by representatives of the All Bodo Students' Union, Takam Mising Porin Kebang, All Rabha Students' Union, All Tiwa Students Union, All Assam Hajong Students' Union, All Assam Sonowal-Kachari Students' Union and All Assam Sarania-Kachari Students' Union. The convention was presided over by AATS president Sukumar Basumatary.

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