Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said his government is committed to reclaiming encroached lands and restoring them to the indigenous people. Speaking at Chaygaon in Kamrup district on Tuesday, he handed over land title certificates under the Forest Rights Act, 2006, to 4,673 tribal families.
Sarma said rampant encroachment in Goalpara and Kamrup districts had deprived ethnic and tribal communities of their political and economic rights. “The indigenous people are the true custodians of Assam’s ‘Jaati, Maati and Bheti’—nationality, land, and the foundation of the state. It is our solemn pledge to ensure justice, dignity, and empowerment for every community who have nurtured these lands for generations,” he said.
The chief minister added that indigenous communities, who traditionally inhabited constituencies such as Boko, Dudhnoi, and West Goalpara, have seen their demographic dominance decline due to illegal encroachments. “The main reason is the encroachment of our lands by illegal immigrants, who often disguise themselves as flood-affected people and settle here. Sadly, at times, we have allowed them to occupy our lands,” he said, urging people to remain vigilant.
Sarma said his government has freed 193 square kilometers of forest land from encroachers since 2021 and will continue evicting illegal settlers. “Our aim is to provide land rights to every tribal person residing in Assam’s forest areas. I am happy that, as a result of government initiatives, tribal communities are being empowered, and their land issues are gradually being resolved,” he said.
The certificates were distributed to tribal families from Garo, Rabha, Bodo, and Karbi communities living in reserved forest areas across Lakhra, Bondapara, Kulshi, Loharghat, Bamunigaon, Boko, and Singra in the three assembly constituencies. Sarma also paid floral tributes to tribal icons, including Birsa Munda, Jaya Thaosen, Rashimoni Hajong, Swahid Kamala Miri, Katiram Rabha, Hemram Pator, Swahid Maghiram Kachari, Bhimbor Deuri, and Swahid Bir Sambudhan Phanglochan, as part of the Janjatiya Gaurav Varsh celebrations marking the 150th birth anniversary of freedom fighter Birsa Munda.
