Separate directorate a must, says State WPT & BC Minister Chandan Brahma

STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI: If the land rights of the indigenous people of Assam are to be ensured, the State must set up a separate directorate, feels State WPT & BC (Welfare of Plain Tribe & Backward Classes) Minister Chandan Brahma.

Now the onus of ensuring land rights of the indigenous people of the State lies with the Revenue and Disaster Management department.

Talking to The Sentinel, Brahma said, "We're stressing on ensuring land rights of the indigenous people of the State. To make that really happen through the implementation of the Assam New Land Policy-2019, we need a separate directorate. While ensuring land rights of the indigenous people of the State, numerous problems will crop up. And these problems are intertwined with various departments. If the Deputy Commissioners and Circle Officers confront problems on the ground, they can contact the Directorate directly. As the nodal agency, the Directorate can untangle the problems with the other departments concerned. This may not be possible on the part of the Revenue department that is overburdened with disaster management and other issues, besides land.

"The rights over vast areas of lands of the indigenous people of the State have already gone to others. When Meghalaya and Arunachal Pradesh can ensure the land rights of the indigenous people, certainly Assam can also do that."

On the shrinking land rights of the indigenous people in tribal blocks and belts, Brahma said, "Chapter X of the Assam Land and Revenue Regulations Law-1886 spells out in no uncertain terms that no non-protected people can purchase or sell land in any protected area like the tribal belts and blocks. People belonging to the non-protected classes who have been residing in such lands even before the creation of protected areas can buy or sell such lands, but only to the non-protected people, not with the protected ones. If that's properly implemented, the rights over lands of the indigenous people of the State will be restored to a large extent."

According to official sources, the State has 46 tribal belts and blocks covering a cumulative area of 1.25 crore bighas. However, much of such lands have been under the encroachment of non-tribal people and people of doubtful nationalities.

Through the implementation of its new land policy, the State government can ensure the land rights of all indigenous people of the State. However, the first hurdle towards that end is the definition of the "indigenous people of the State". So long as the definition of the 'indigenous people' of Assam eludes the State, solution to the problem will continue to elude. Will the government catch the bull by the horns and define the phrase 'indigenous people' of Assam, and if so when? 

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