Assam's bid to protect indigenous people

Assam govt has announced plans to implement 57 of 67 recommendations made by Union home ministry-appointed commission for safeguarding interests of indigenous people. Among these is the identification of revenue circles where only “Assamese people” will be allowed to own and possess land. This move comes as part of the effort to uphold Clause 6 of Assam Accord of 1985, aimed at providing constitutional, legal, and administrative protection to Assamese people. In these designated areas, land transfers will be restricted exclusively to Assamese people. Urban areas under Assam Municipal Act will be exempt from this restriction, ensuring that land in cities and towns can be owned by any citizen of India without affecting interests of Assamese people. Another key recommendation involves a time-bound, three-year programme to issue land pattas to Assamese people who have occupied land for decades but lack official documentation. Those occupying govt land and eligible for settlement under the 2019 Land Policy will also be granted pattas.