Assam govt working to safeguard rights of indigenous people: CM Sarma

Guwahati, July 9 (IANS) Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Thursday said the state government is further strengthening its land laws, based on recommendations of the Central government, to safeguard the rights of indigenous communities living around heritage sites and preserve the original identity of such areas.

In a post on X, the Chief Minister said the proposed measures are aimed at preventing changes to the demographic and cultural character of historically significant locations while ensuring greater legal protection for local communities.

“We are further strengthening our land laws, based on recommendations from the Central Government, to protect the rights of our indigenous communities near heritage sites and preserve the original identity of these areas,” Sarma said.

Earlier, the Chief Minister announced that the Assam Cabinet has approved amendments to the Assam Land and Revenue Regulation to introduce stricter restrictions on the transfer and registration of land around notified heritage sites.

According to Sarma, the move seeks to curb indiscriminate land transactions in ecologically and culturally sensitive areas and ensure that the interests of indigenous residents remain protected.

The amendments are expected to create a stronger legal framework for regulating land ownership and transfer in the vicinity of heritage locations. The Chief Minister said preserving the unique historical, cultural and social identity of these areas is a priority for the government.

He added that unchecked land transfers could alter the demographic profile of heritage zones and affect the traditional rights of local communities.

A senior government official said that the strengthened provisions will help strike a balance between conservation of heritage assets and sustainable development while preventing encroachment and unregulated commercial activities in protected regions.

The proposed amendments come as the Assam government has intensified efforts to protect indigenous land rights through a series of legal and administrative measures in recent years.

The state has also undertaken drives against encroachment in reserved forests, government land and other protected areas while framing policies aimed at safeguarding the interests of indigenous people.

The amendments will come into effect after completion of the required legislative process and are expected to reinforce the state’s broader policy of protecting Assam’s heritage and indigenous identity.

–IANS

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