The Assam Government has been successful in uplifting historically marginalized communities like Scheduled Castes-SC, Scheduled Tribes-ST and Other Backward Classes-OBC through its ambitious initiative Mission Basundhara. Moreover, at least 30,000 individuals from the General category benefitted from land allocations. The claim by Chief Minister Dr Himanta Biswa Sarma in the State Assembly is backed by the recently released-statistics.
CM Dr Himanta mentioned the State Government seeks to convey the message that “Assam has changed now” through this transformative vision as the astounding data reveals as many as 1,95,000 hail from SC, ST and OBC out of the 2,29,659 people, who were offered settlement.
Exhorting everyone to reject the regressive and dynastic politics for being obstacle to development trajectory, he mentioned, “We will not worship families” and urged the people to follow broader nationalistic concept of service towards “Mother India” and “Mother Assam”.
Restating his resolution to direct Assam towards progress, the CM underscored the importance of New Assam and New India ethos, which encapsulates patriotism brushing aside interests of few privileged people.
Besides highlighting the performance of Mission Basundhara, CM Himanta outlined the definition of Assam’s indigenous people in context of the land allotment and legal documents distribution.
He mentioned, “People who live in a place for years and years, are the indigenous people. Aboriginals are the indigenous people as we say the Red Indians are the indigenous people in America.”
In this context, CM Himanta said anyone coming and settling down in Assam from outside of the State can’t be termed indigenous. However, the CM stated the converted people can reclaim indigenous status if they show “original document or identity” which they possessed before conversion.
He noted some Hindus were subjected to forceful conversion during the Mughal period and said these people can return to their originality by accepting Hinduism again get back their indigenous status.
Dealing with the Opposition MLA’s obsession with the land rights of Miyaan (Migrant Muslims from Bangladesh), the CM responded Basundhara is not for them, who came recently or 100 years back adding there will be different land allotment process for the people who came to Assam from other parts of the country or for the people dwelling on Char (Reverine) areas.
The CM cited till date the land assessment in Char areas has not been done owing to the Congress Government, which did not begin the registration process for the same.
