Govt. to Wipe Out All Land-related Encumbrances as Part of Its Land-reform Measures, Asserts Chief Minister

CM Dr. Sarma Starts Land Patta Distribution under Mission Basundhara 2.0 from Dhemaji

CM also Distributes Patta in Jonai of Dhemaji District

Govt. to Wipe Out All Land-related Encumbrances as Part of Its Land-reform Measures, Asserts Chief Minister

Taking a bold stride in fulfilling the government’s resolve towards social equity, Chief Minister Dr. Himanta Biswa Sarma on Thursday started the process of distribution land pattas under Mission Basundhara 2.0 from Dhemaji district.

Chief Minister Dr. Sarma personally handed over a few land pattas to beneficiaries of Mission Basundhara 2.0 at a ceremony held at Kachari Field in Dhemaji. Under Mission Basundhara 2.0, a total of 38,000 applicants in Dhemaji district were found eligible for receiving land patta from the Government of Assam.

Speaking on the occasion, Chief Minister Dr. Sarma said all these years, members of the indigenous communities inhabiting in the State did not have documentary land records to legally claim their possession over the plot of land under their possession since time immemorial. Realising this irony, the State government brought about amendment into the land rights Act, the Chief Minister said. This led to the government deciding to provide land rights to the landless indigenous people, the Chief Minister stated. He said, “I am happy to have started the process of distributing land pattas under Mission Basundhara 2.0 from Dhemaji district, as this process will enable our indigenous landless people to have official documents over his or her plot of land”.

The Chief Minister further added these land pattas shall enable the land-holders to record ownership of their land and empower them to use them as collateral. He said the digital form of the pattas would enable the beneficiaries to trace them in digilocker in the event of the pattas getting lost or misplaced. He added these land rights shall also enable the beneficiaries to enjoy the benefits of other government schemes. Launching the distribution of land pattas under Mission Basundhara 2.0 from Dhemaji is a manifestation of the government’s commitment towards safeguarding the land rights of the people of the state, he remarked.

The Chief Minister said the distribution of land pattas is also an initiative on the part of the government to empower the people. He added that 84 per cent of the beneficiaries under this scheme are from the scheduled caste (SC)/Scheduled Tribe (ST)/Other Backward Class (OBC) and other backward communities and therefore, granting them land pattas will ensure their empowerment. He also said the government was committed to wiping out all encumbrances associated with land in the state as a part of its land-reform initiatives. He asserted the government has been taking many revolutionary steps to wipe out the menace of middlemen in land dealings.

The Chief Minister stated that ever since the present regime in the State took over the reign of the government, it has been working dedicatedly to bring about socio-economic-academic empowerment narrative in the state. He said the schemes such as Orunodoi, waiver of microfinance loans, ration cards, health insurance, transparency in government jobs recruitment, among others, are testament to the government’s commitment of making an Assam free of all negative practices. He said that government is taking steps to ensure all beneficiaries of Orunodoi shall be entitled to the benefits of Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana for which the premium will be paid by the State government.

Education Minister Dr Ranoj Pegu, Member of Parliament Pradan Barua also spoke on the occasion.

Tea Tribe Welfare Minister Sanjoy Kishan, Chief Executive of Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council Tuliram Ronghang, Chief Executive of Deuri Autonomous Council Bhairav Deuri, Chief Executive of Sonowal Kachari Autonomous Council Tankeswar Sonowal, Chief Executive of Mising Autonomous Council Paramananda Chayengiya and others were present on the occasion.

Later in the day, Chief Minister Dr. Himanta Biswa Sarma took part in land patta distribution ceremony held at Jonai in Dhemaji district. Of the 38,000 land patta distribution in Dhemaji district under Mission Basundhara 2.0, Jonai LAC accounts for nearly 13,000 of the pattas being distributed in this phase.

Education Minister Dr Ranoj Pegu, Member of Parliament Pradan Barua, MLA Bhuban Pegu, Chief Executive of Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council Tuliram Ronghang, Chief Executive of Bodo Kachari Welfare Council Mihineshwar Basumatary, Prominent Social Worker Rupa Kaman, along with host of others was present on the occasion.