In a landmark initiative to strengthen land rights for indigenous communities, the Assam government handed over forest land title deeds to 4,673 tribal families on Monday. The event, held at Pantan High School playground in Chaygaon, Kamrup district, was organized jointly by the Kamrup District Administration and the Department of Tribal Affairs (Plain). The distribution coincided with the ongoing “Jatiya Gaurav Varsh Fortnight”, celebrating tribal heritage and the 150th birth anniversary of freedom fighter Birsa Munda. Beneficiaries from the Garo, Rabha, Bodo, and Karbi communities, residing across forest ranges such as Lokhara, Bondapara, Kulshi, Loharghat, Bamunigaon, Boko, and Singra, received legal recognition of the lands they have traditionally occupied for generations. Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma described the initiative as a major step toward granting permanent land rights to tribal populations.
“Our goal is to ensure land ownership for every tribal person living in forest areas. This effort has provided relief to thousands of families and helped reduce disputes over land,” he said. The Chief Minister highlighted that the government has been implementing provisions of the Forest Rights Act, 2005, since 2021, benefiting families across Sonitpur, Nagaon, Karbi Anglong, and the Bodoland Territorial Region. Another 5,000 families in Sonitpur and Biswanath are expected to receive land pattas soon. Under the first phase of the Basundhara scheme, over 1.5 lakh tribal households received ownership documents, and the permissible landholding limit was raised from seven to fifty bighas after consultations with tribal organizations. Sarma further noted that 600 villages have transitioned from non-cadastral to cadastral areas, enabling thousands to claim legal ownership for the first time. “After almost 78 years of independence, tribal people of East and West Kamrup forest divisions are finally landowners. This is a proud moment,” he said.
On curbing encroachments, the Chief Minister mentioned that 1.45 lakh bighas of forest land had been cleared, with further operations planned in Goalpara district. He also emphasized the political empowerment of tribal communities, noting that the Boko, Goalpara West, and Dudhnai constituencies have been reserved for them. Sarma urged communities to preserve their language and traditions, invoking Birsa Munda’s vision of cultural preservation.The ceremony included floral tributes to Birsa Munda and other tribal leaders like Jaya Thausen, Bashimoni Hajong, Kamala Miri, Katiram Rabha, Hemram Patar, Maghiram Kachari, Bhimbar Deuri, and Bir Sambhudhan Phonglocha. The programme was attended by ministers Ranoj Pegu, Ashok Singhal, Pijush Hazarika, MP Bijuli Kalita Medhi, MLAs Suman Haripriya, Hemanga Thakuria, Nandita Das, and RHAC chief executive member Tankeswar Rabha, among others.