Assam Cabinet approves new Land Policy for “indigenous” people; but who are indigenous?

October 22: At a time, when the definition of the terms “indigenous” and “original inhabitants” are hotly debated in Assam in the backdrop of the NRC exercise, the state Cabinet on Tuesday approved a new land policy for the ‘indigenous people.’

The Cabinet meeting presided over by Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal adopted a new land policy which will  provide three bigha (43,200 sq. ft.) land for agriculture purposes and half bigha land for homestead purposes (for constructing a house) to “indigenous” landless families. It was further decided in the Cabinet meeting that anyone benefiting from the new land policy will be able to sell the land only after 15 years of its usage.

The new Land Policy was passed by the Cabinet which provides 3 Bigha land for agriculture purposes and half Bigha land for homestead purposes to indigenous landless families.

₹ 50,000 will also be provided to landless persons listed as PMAY beneficiary.

— Chief Minister Assam (@CMOfficeAssam) October 22, 2019

However, the question that arises here is that the government has not provided any definition of the term “indigenous” and so in the absence of any commonly accepted definition, there may arise many complicacies while selection of beneficiaries for this scheme. Further, this also has a political connotation which may even open a pandora’s box at this present situation when more than 19 lakh people were excluded from the final NRC declared on August 2019.

The Cabinet also approved 50% subsidy for investments in piggery, poultry, livestock, dairy and meat processing industries.

— Chief Minister Assam (@CMOfficeAssam) October 22, 2019

Apart from this, Rs 50,000 will also be provided to landless persons listed as PMAY beneficiary. The Cabinet also approved 50% subsidy for investments in piggery, poultry, livestock, dairy and meat processing industries.