Committee for protection of land rights of indigenous persons

A Committee has been constituted by the Assam Government for protection of land rights of indigenous persons of the State with former Chief Election Commissioner Hari Sankar Brahma as its chairman.
Brahma told reporters here today that the Committee was constituted on February six for suggesting measures including modification in the Assam Land Revenue Regulation, 1886, other land laws, Government Policy and Land Policy for ensuring protection of land rights of indigenous people in Assam.
The Committee, which took charge today, has a time frame of three months to submit its report and will be provided all necessary assistance by the Revenue and Disaster Management Department, he said.

Asked who would be considered as indigenous people in the event of the Assam Assembly yet to decide on such people, Brahma said, "those people born and brought up in Assam before March 1971 as per the Assam Accord and are Indian citizens would be considered as indigenous people".
The the Committee would find available land in the state and level of encroachment, Brahma said adding it will try to find out the land position through satellite imagery.
The Revenue Department has been asked to find out and give its report to the Committee in the next two week about government and forest land under encroachment.

"We have more than 78000 sq km total land out of which 28000 sq km area is cultivated land.

"As per agriculture statistics total land owning farmers in the 33 districts are 16 lakh. So the area per family is very minimal and not economically viable", Brahma pointed out.
"The Committee will meet all the stake holders for how best we can improve the rules and regulations pertaining to land to improve the situation", Brahma said.
"In the two hill districts of Dima Hasao and Karbi Anglong of Assam the right of land is with the District Councils and not with individual owners.

"We will see how to have uniform land policy in the state", he said.