Guwahati: Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Friday reaffirmed the state government’s commitment to securing land rights for indigenous people as he distributed land settlements to indigenous landless families under Mission Basundhara 3.0, calling it a decisive step towards correcting decades of neglect driven by vote-bank politics.
Sharing the moment on X, the Chief Minister described receiving “a warm hug filled with trust and affection from a Bhumiputra brother,” reflecting the emotional significance of the initiative. He stated that land rights were granted to indigenous landless families who had remained deprived for decades, asserting that “Assam’s land belongs to its people” and stressing that the government would ensure that no infiltrator occupies it.
In another post, Sarma recalled the launch of Mission Basundhara on October 2, 2021, noting that the government had not anticipated the scale at which the programme would expand. What began as a limited set of land-related services has now evolved into Assam’s largest land reform initiative, benefitting lakhs of people across the state. “We promised, we delivered,” the Chief Minister said, underlining the fulfilment of the government’s assurances.
Continuing the land reform drive under Mission Basundhara 3, Sarma said land rights were distributed not only to indigenous landless families but also to eligible institutions, effectively ending decades of uncertainty over land ownership. Emphasising the ideological foundation of the programme, he said that “Jati, Mati, Bheti isn’t just a slogan; it is our sworn duty and commitment to Assam.”
Meanwhile, aligning with the Chief Minister’s vision, the Kamrup Metro district administration organised a land settlement distribution programme under Mission Basundhara 3.0 at the DC Conference Hall. During the programme, authorities granted land settlements to indigenous landless families and distributed digital pattas in identified Non-Cadastral (NC) villages where surveys had been completed under the SVAMITVA scheme.
Along with digital pattas, beneficiaries also received allotment and settlement letters, as well as acceptance letters for allotment and settlement proposals issued to various institutions. The distribution was carried out by East Guwahati MLA Siddhartha Bhattacharya and West Guwahati MLA Ramendra Narayan Kalita.
The event was attended by New Guwahati Co-District Commissioner Arundhati Narah Mipun, Additional Deputy Commissioners Hemanga Nobis and Raja Baishya, along with officials from various institutions and officers and staff of the district administration.
The initiative aims to provide legal ownership, security, and dignity to eligible beneficiaries under the state government’s flagship land settlement drive. With Mission Basundhara 3.0, the Assam government seeks to institutionalise land rights, reduce disputes, and ensure that indigenous communities receive long-overdue recognition and protection over their land.
