Assam News: The Assam government has started a special survey to identify non-indigenous people settled on forest land located in Guwahati and surrounding areas. This survey focuses only on those families who have not been living here for at least three generations. The government says that the purpose of this survey is to identify illegal and temporary settlements in the forest area which can affect the population balance.
Revenue land and local people excluded from the survey
Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has clarified that this survey is limited only to forest land and has no connection with revenue land or other areas. He also said that people who belong to indigenous communities and live in these areas have been completely excluded from this survey. The government’s aim is only to identify those who have settled here with the intention of disturbing the population balance.
Nothing to do with religion: Chief Minister
The Chief Minister clearly said in the press conference that this survey has nothing to do with any religion. This survey is not being done on the basis of religious identity but only on the basis of location and settlement history. He said that this is a necessary step to protect the geographical and social structure of Assam so that demographic change can be prevented in the future.
New initiative will be linked to Mission Basundhara III
The Chief Minister also said that the government is now considering giving land rights (lease) to those indigenous people who are currently living on forest land under Mission Basundhara III. This initiative will not only give legal protection to the local people but will also work to connect them with permanent life and government schemes. This will create a new framework regarding land rights in Assam.
Opposition’s silence and public reaction
So far there has been no sharp reaction from the opposition regarding this survey. At the same time, a mixed attitude of the local public has been seen. Some people are considering it a good step for the social security of Assam, while some say that it is only a superficial measure and transparency is needed in it. However, the government has assured that this entire process will be done in a fair and sensitive manner.
