The Union government has decided to constitute a task force for “Land Governance in North Eastern States."
The decision was taken at the recently concluded National Conference on “Land Governance in North Eastern States” in Guwahati, Assam. Ajay Tirkey, secretary, department of Land Resources, presided over the National Conference that was held on May 3–4.
During the conference, the Territorial and Autonomous District Councils in the states of Assam, Tripura, Mizoram and Meghalaya held that digitization and modernization of land records are essential for development, the Union Rural Development Ministry said in a release.
The conference deliberated on the current state practices and modernization of land records, the land governance assessment framework and customary and indigenous laws, current practices and new initiatives, and the role of the Survey of India in Land Records Modernization.
While the initiatives of computerization and digitization of land records and maps have shown good progress in the rest of Assam, it was seen that there are serious gaps in the areas under the Bodoland Territorial Council, Karbi Anglong Autonomous District Council and Dima Hasao Autonomous District Council, the release stated.
The ministry stated that the Bodoland Land Policy is being framed and is expected to be finalized shortly. Survey and settlement in the Karbi Anglong areas have not been done, it stated.
While the Dima Hasao Autonomous District Council has adopted the Assam Land Regulation Act, large tracts of land have non-cadastral areas, and it was felt that these areas should be surveyed. The Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous Council has eight districts and approximately 10,000 sq km under the Sixth Schedule and 10 customary laws, it stated.
In the Lai Autonomous District Council areas of Sixth Schedule, a need was felt for survey/resurvey of the areas, it stated.
In the Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council areas of Meghalaya, land is largely owned by the community.
While the Garo Hills Autonomous District Council has a system of issuance of Annual Pattas by the District Council, the Jaintia Hills Autonomous District Council, Meghalaya, follows the Maghalaya Land Survey and Records Preparation Act 1980.
Tirkey stressed that while the various Autonomous District Councils in the North-Eastern States that digitizing and modernizing their land records was a way forward, all efforts would be undertaken to support the Councils within the Constitutional framework and established laws.
As a step forward in this direction, the Bodoland Territorial Council had raised a proposal for digitization and modernization of land records, and the Department of Land Resources had duly approved the same.
The Secretary, Department of land Resources, further looking into the magnitude of work required across the North-Eastern States, informed that a Task Force for Land Governance in North-Eastern States will be constituted after a due process with the approval of Competent competent authority after consultation with the various Autonomous District Councils.
Sonmoni Borah, Joint Secretary, Department of Land Resources, requested the various Autonomous District Councils to send their proposals for digitization and modernization of land records under the Digital India Land Records Modernization Programme (DILRMP).
The National Conference was organized by Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration, Mussoorie, and the Department of Land Resources with the support of Revenue Department, Government of Assam.
Others who attended the conference included Gyanendra Dev Tripathi, Principal Secretary, Revenue, Government of Assam; Anandhi, Deputy Director, Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration, Mussoorie; PV Rajasekhar, Additional Surveyor General, Survey of India; Mridula Singh, Sr Social Development Specialist, World Bank, and other senior officers.
Representatives of Bodoland Territorial Council, Karbi Anglong Autonomous District Council, Dima Hasao Autonomous District Council (all in Assam); Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous Council, Tripura; Lai Autonomous District Council, Mizoram; Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council, Garo Hills Autonomous District Council and Jaintia Hills Autonomous District Council (all in Meghalaya) also participated in the National Conference.
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