On Tuesday in Chhaygaon, Kamrup district, Assam’s Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma handed out land title certificates to 4,673 tribal families. The ceremony was part of the Janjatiya Gaurav Varsh celebrations and marked a big step under the Forest Rights Act of 2006.
The families come from the Garo, Rabha, Bodo and Karbi communities. They live in forested villages such as Lakhra, Bondapara, Kulshi, Loharghat, Bamunigaon, Boko and Singra. Sarma said the new titles give them official ownership of land they’ve inhabited for generations.
“We started the process in 2021 to give every eligible tribal family in forest areas a land patta,” he told the crowd. “Thousands now have titles in Sonitpur, Nagaon, Karbi Anglong and the Bodoland Territorial Region. Almost 5,000 more families in Sonitpur and Biswanath will get theirs soon.”
The chief minister also announced a change to Mission Basundhara. Tribal families can now apply for land pattas up to 50 bighas, up from the old 7‑bigha limit. In addition, about 600 villages have been converted from non‑cadastral to cadastral status, making it easier for families to claim ownership.
Protecting forests is a key priority. Over 145,000 bighas of encroached forest land have been freed, and eviction drives will continue in districts like Goalpara and Kamrup. “Stay alert to prevent new encroachments,” Sarma urged.
He paid tribute to tribal leaders, highlighting the legacy of Bhagawan Birsa Munda. “Let his spirit guide us as we preserve our traditions, languages and customs while facing modern challenges,” he said.
The event was attended by ministers, MLAs and senior officials, including Tankeswar Rabha, chief executive member of the Rabha Hasong Autonomous Council.
Source: ianslive
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