Staff Reporter
GUWAHATI: Various organizations have welcomed the eviction drives being carried out by the state government to free forest and other lands from encroachers so as to secure the future of the indigenous and tribal people of the state. The drive is quite in sync with Chief Minister Dr. Himanta Biswa Sarma's oft-repeated statement, 'Our forest, our lands, our xatras, our agriculture field; we're going all-out to ensure that only legitimate Indian citizens enjoy the joy of being in Assam.'
Speaking to The Sentinel on this vexed issue, AASU (All Assam Students' Union) president Utpal Sarma said, "The AASU has the avowed stand that forest lands, xatra lands, agricultural lands, and other lands have to be made free from encroachment. Clause X of the Assam Accord has clearly said that the government has to prevent lands from encroachments and free the encroached lands in the state. The 'landless tag' is not a guarantee card for rampant encroachment of lands anywhere and everywhere. Such encroachments have brought about two major changes in the state. It has violated the land rights of the indigenous people and changed the demography in the state. The demographic changes have made the indigenous people of the state lose their grip over many legislative assembly constituencies where they are no longer deciding factors."
Sarma said, "Our demands are straightforward-let the government rehabilitate genuine Indian encroachers to places where they came from. Apart from this, it is the duty of the government to ensure the land rights of the indigenous people. In line with tribal belts and blocks, let the government create special revenue circles where only people staying in the state since 1951 or before can sell and buy lands. Full-fledged implementation of clause VI of the Assam Accord will ensure constitutional rights of the indigenous people of the state."
The AASU president said, "The Assamese society needs to give due respect to the dignity of labour so as to make the youth of the state grow a work culture without any hesitation. Such a development will make the local youths do all sorts of work, like selling vegetables, doing manual work, masonry, carpentry, hairdressing, etc. The AASU will play its role to motivate the youth to work in the dividend-paying unorganized sector. We have been conducting a district-wise economic survey to identify the sorts of activities that will help local youths earn remunerative income. We've already started such economic activities in several districts. We are not against the beneficiary schemes of the government. We want the government to give money to the public for works done. This will make the people of the state work-orientated, without which the survival of the Assamese society will be at stake."
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