Chief Minister Dr. Himanta Biswa Sarma ceremoniously launched Mission Basundhara 3.0 scheme which is aimed at conferring land rights to the indigenous communities of the State. The initiative represents a significant step in safeguarding the rights of indigenous people of the State while reiterating the Government’s commitment to preserving “Jati-Mati-Bheti”.
The official programme was held at Srimanta Sankaradeva Kalakshetra in Guwahati on October 20.
Speaking on the occasion, Chief Minister Dr. Sarma said: “Immediately after we assumed office, we set out on a mission to provide land rights to indigenous communities in Assam- an exercise undertaken after 75 years of independence. On 2 October, 2021, Mission Basundhara was born with this vision.”
Dr. Sarma said that soon after setting out to implement this mission, he was amazed by the unprecedented number of applications received from different beneficiaries. This receipt of applications thereby validated the State Government’s efforts of land related initiatives in Assam. The Chief Minister added that the Government disposed off eight lakh applications in nine months under Mission Basundhara 1.0.
He said that realising the benefits, especially in conferring land rights to the indigenous people of the State, the Assam Government launched the second edition of Mission Basundhara in November 2022 and gave land rights to over two lakh indigenous people within one year. “Through this comprehensive Mission we aim to allot land ownership to priority groups at the earliest and bring transparency in various land related services,” he said.
To qualify for the benefits of Mission Basundhara or to receive a land patta, applicants must provide proof of residency in Assam since 1951 or demonstrate that three generations of their family have lived in the State for 75 years. However, people belonging to Scheduled Tribe, Scheduled Caste, Tea Tribes & Ex Tea Tribe, Adivasi and Gorkhas are exempted from this requirement by virtue of being the sons of the soil.
The Chief Minister said that under Mission Basundhara 3.0, pre-1971 refugees, too, are eligible to apply for land patta but they must have valid Refugee certificates (issued by Government agencies).
Highlighting on the services that will be available, the Chief Minister said that Mission Basundhara 3.0 will enable review of Mission Basundhara 2.0 cases pending for clarification, end-to-end digitization of annual pattas to periodic pattas conversion with rationalised premium rates in urban and peripheral areas, one-time conversion of tea grant land to periodic patta, settlement of erstwhile Bhoodan and Gramdan land, etc.
The Chief Minister said that land pattas will be provided to educational institutions, Naamghars, Temples, cremation grounds, kabarsthans, public establishments like club houses, etc. The main criterion for issuing land pattas is three generations of ancestry. Also, a society registration certificate should be available. In the case of donated lands, if there has been no objection for the last 12 years, the land should be brought to an ‘undisputed’ position, and a patta should be issued to the institution concerned, the Chief Minister added.
Emphasising the significance of land reforms, the Chief Minister said, “Assam has initiated a series of land reforms, including digitisation and conversion of non-cadastral to cadastral villages. The aim is to introduce land passbooks in Assam in the next couple of years.”
He advocated the use of technology in making land documents more accessible, announcing the implementation of digital maps in land surveys.
Mission Basundhara 3.0 initiative extends its reach to tea, coffee, and rubber cultivators, enabling them to access benefits and financial support. “Previously, small tea growers had been utilising Government land without ownership rights, leaving them unable to secure financial aid from banks. Under Mission Basundhara 3.0, these cultivators can now apply for loans from financial institutions to enhance production,” he said.
