Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Thursday officially launched the arms licensing service in the state. He clarified that the government will only provide arms licenses, not weapons. The initiative aims to give a sense of security to the people living in sensitive and insecure areas and give them the right to self-defense. The Chief Minister said that this service will be available as a citizen service under the ‘Seva Setu’ portal. Under this, the people of Assam living in the border and sensitive areas of the state will be able to apply for arms license.
Assurance of security to the natives
The main objective of this scheme is to provide security to the communities who live in areas of ethnic or communal tension. The changing demographics and social conditions in Assam have affected the security of the natives of the state. The Chief Minister informed that the government launched a massive campaign against illegal encroachers and freed 1.29 lakh bighas of government and forest land. With this step, an attempt was made to strengthen the law and order in the state and ensure the safety of the natives.
Process of getting arms license
To get a weapon license, one has to go through several steps. It includes security assessment, background checks, verification of documents, compliance with existing laws, non-transferability of the license, periodic review and monitoring. This process ensures that the license is given only to deserving and genuine people facing a real threat. The license holders will be regularly monitored by the authorities to prevent any kind of misuse.
Eligibility and eligibility criteria
The person applying for the arms license should be a native or tribal Indian citizen of Assam. Also, they should feel a genuine threat to life and security due to the sensitivity of their area. The applicant should have been declared as living in a sensitive or remote area by the district administration or assessed by authorized security agencies. Such strict criteria ensure that the license is given only to those who really need it.
Steps for stability and peace
The scheme aims not only to give arms licenses but also to make the communities self-reliant and maintain peace and stability in the area. The Chief Minister said that this initiative will give a sense of security to the local people and they will be able to ensure their own safety. Through regular monitoring, review and reporting, it will also be ensured that the licenses are not misused. In this way, the Government of Assam has taken an important step giving priority to the security of the state and the safety of the communities.
