Mission Basundhara 2.0 launched for settling land issues of indigenous people, says CM

STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI: Mission Basundhara 2.0 has been launched for settlement of land issues of indigenous people of the State, said Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma. Mission Basundhara 2.0 was launched at an official ceremony held at the Srimanta Sankardev Kalakshetra Auditorium in Guwahati. Apart from the formal launch of the services under Mission Basundhara 2.0, the Chief Minister also launched e-stamping facilities in the State.

The Chief Minister said that the Mission would not cover the sar areas in the initial stage as there were ecological factors to be taken into consideration. He further said that land claims of doubtful citizens would be decided later after settling the claims of the indigenous people.

While elaborating on the definition of indigenous, the Chief Minister said that the government would be following the definition given in the Forest Rights Act. "Under Mission Basundhara 2.0, land claims will be settled based on self-certification, which will state that the claimant has been residing on the land for the last three generations. Whenever there is any doubt, the district administration will conduct an inquiry against the claimant," said the Chief Minister.

The services provided under Mission Basundhara 2.0 are the settlement of government khas and ceiling surplus land; conferring ownership rights to occupancy tenants; settlement of transferred annual patta land; settlement of VGR/PGR land; settlement of land for indigenous special cultivators (tea, coffee, rubber etc.); settlement of hereditary land of tribal communities, among others.

"If people do not apply for land rights under Mission Basundhara 2.0 and if later the government carries out an eviction drive on their land, they will have to vacate the land even if they are indigenous people. So, it is my appeal to people to avail the benefits of Mission Basundhara 2.0," said the Chief Minister.

"I also urge Circle Officers (COs) not to be too dependent on mandals and kanungos as they may try to mislead or take the upper hand in settlement of land issues. Land settlement must be done as per government procedure so that people are not harassed unnecessarily," he added.

"Circle Officers need not settle land claims of doubtful citizens in haste. These claims will be decided upon later by the government," he added.

Under Mission Basundhara 2.0, khazna will be paid online through the web portal e-GRAS. Henceforth, khazna will not be paid to mouzadars. They will get a share of the khazna but will be engaged in other works.

The Chief Minister launched e-stamping facilities in the State and said that by March 31, 2023, manual stamp paper would be done away with. Mission Basundhar 2.0 will provide composite land transfer service under which land sale, issuance of NOC for land sale permission and land mutation will be done together on online mode.

"The government plans to bring in a Title Guarantee Bill by 2025 which will help resolve all land issues," said the Chief Minister.

The Chief Minister today also launched the National Generic Documents Registration System (NGDRS). The NGDRS will be initially implemented in the Kamrup and Darrang districts.

Today's ceremonial launch of Mission Basundhara 2.0 was also attended by Revenue Minister Jogen Mohan, Chief Secretary Paban Kumar Borthakur, and a host of other dignitaries.

Also Read:    Assam Government to launch Mission Basundhara 2.0 today

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