Staff Reporter
GUWAHATI: The Coordination Committee of the Tribal Organizations of Assam (CCTOA) has decided to submit a formal proposal to the Government of Assam, emphasizing the importance of stakeholder consultation with tribal organizations before any amendments to Chapter X of the Assam Land and Revenue (Regulation) Act, 1886, are finalized.
The Government of Assam is moving forward with the revision of provisions under Chapter X of the Assam Land and Revenue (Regulation) Act, 1886. As per a notification issued on May 9, 2025, a Land Governance Commission has been constituted with Justice (retired) Prashanta Kumar Deka as the chairman. The purpose of the Commission is to reassess existing land-related laws and regulations and recommend comprehensive, updated legislation addressing the current needs of the state.
Scope of the Commission: The Commission will examine the existing land and revenue laws, land rights recognition, community and forest (village) land, urban land policies, public land management and acquisition, land dispute resolution mechanisms, revenue fixation, land surveys and mapping, valuation of land, institutional reforms, etc.
The CCTOA convened a meeting at the Tribal Rest House today. The meeting was jointly presided over by Sukumar Basumatary, president of the All Assam Tribal Sangha (AATS), and Dipen Boro, president of the All Bodo Students Union (ABSU).
Speaking to the media, CCTOA’s chief coordinator Aditya Khakhlari said the CCTOA demanded that before the Land Governance Commission submits its final report, a meeting must be convened involving the Revenue & Disaster Management Department, the Commission, and key tribal stakeholder organizations like the CCTOA.
On the protection of tribal land rights, Khakhlari said that the commission must not submit any report that undermines or curtails the existing land rights of tribal communities. Instead, it must recommend stronger protections, he said.
On the issue of tribal belt and block mapping, Khakhlari, the meeting demanded the government officially publish maps of tribal belts and blocks constituted under Chapter X of the Assam Land and Revenue Regulation. The meeting also advocated for constitutional protection of all 48 notified belts and blocks, similar to those provided under the 5th and 6th Schedules.
He said that the meeting urged the government to declare new tribal belts and blocks covering tribal villages and areas not yet included.
On the issue of scheduled tribe status for six communities, Khakhlari said that the meeting discussed the central government’s ongoing deliberation on granting scheduled tribe status to six communities in Assam. While recognising the sensitivity of the issue, CCTOA cautioned that any decision undermining the rights and entitlements of existing Scheduled Tribes will be strongly opposed, he said.
He said that the meeting highlighted that 12,155 government job vacancies reserved for ST (Hills and Plains) categories remain unfilled, despite over 1.5 lakh appointments being made in recent years. The CCTOA demanded urgent filling of the backlog vacancies in upcoming recruitment drives.
The CCTOA urged the government to ensure full implementation of the Forest Rights Act, 2006 across Assam, including regions under BTR, Rabha Hasong, Karbi Anglong, and Dima Hasao, to recognise and secure the land rights of forest-dwelling tribal communities.
The meeting expressed serious concern over the Government of Assam’s Cabinet decision to allot 3,000 bighas of land to APDCL for a power project in Rupsi Mouza of Kokrajhar District under Bagribari Revenue Circle (BTR). It stressed that agricultural land and property of Boro tribal residents of Dukhichukhijhora, Paglijhora, and Mowamarijhar must be protected, and no harm should come to their assets. A dialogue with affected communities was urged.
The CCTOA demands a probe into Rashmita Hojai’s mysterious death with a special investigation team of police, besides a high-level inquiry into the alleged brutal assault and killing of Deburam Ronghang, an employee of G.M. Coke Industry in Dimoria.
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