The Assam Government under the leadership of Chief Minister Dr Himanta Biswa Sarma began first-of-its kind initiative Mission Basundhara 2.0 to empower the people, particularly the indigenous communities. The CM asserted after 76 years of independence, under the scheme, over 2 lakh families will get land rights for which Team Assam is touring the entire State to distribute Land Pattas.
Initially, CM Himanta distributed documents to 38,223 individuals at Jonai town of Dhemaji district, which is the most benefitted under the scheme, and to 12,000 families at Sadiya in Tinsukia district on Thursday.
Presiding over the distribution of ‘pattas’ at two events held in Dhemaji and Tinsukia districts, CM Himanta mentioned, “Members of the indigenous communities in the State did not have land record documents to legally claim their land under their possession since time immemorial. Realising this irony, the State Government amended the Land Rights Act. This led the government to decide on providing land rights to the landless indigenous people.”
It is to be noted that many districts in Assam fall under Tribal Belt and Block area, which was first regulated by the British Government to protect the land rights of aboriginal protected tribal classes from immigrants in 1886. However, due to lack of proper document, these indigenous people lost the status of protected community and subsequently, were not able to buy or sell land plot in these districts.
Now, these land documents will enable the land-holders to record ownership of their land and empower them to use them as collateral. The digital form of ‘pattas’ would enable the beneficiaries to trace those in the digi locker in case those are lost or misplaced. They will now able to avail bank loan, added the CM.
“The land rights will also enable the beneficiaries to enjoy the benefits of other government schemes and Mission Basundhara is a manifestation of the government’s commitment towards safeguarding the land rights of the people of the state,” he said.
CM Himanta said the distribution of land records is an initiative on the part of the government to empower 84 per cent people belonging to the Scheduled Caste, Scheduled Tribe and other backward communities.
The government has taken many revolutionary steps to wipe out the menace of the middlemen in land dealings, he said.
