Guwahati, Nov 28 (NationPress) - On Friday, the Assam Legislative Assembly approved the Assam Fixation of Ceiling on Land Holdings (Amendment) Bill, initiating a significant policy change that will allow over three lakh tea garden workers to obtain legal ownership rights to land within tea estates.

The government indicated that approximately 3.33 lakh workers would receive pattas for around 2.18 lakh bighas of land.

This initiative is anticipated to significantly influence the socio-economic conditions of tea garden communities, potentially impacting over 14.5 lakh family members throughout the state.

To facilitate effective implementation, garden-level committees will be established in every tea estate to oversee the identification of beneficiaries and the distribution process.

Under the provisions of this scheme, the allotted land cannot be sold or transferred for a duration of 20 years. However, beneficiaries will have the option to mortgage the land to secure institutional loans for development.

After the 20-year period, any sales will only be allowed to residents of the same tea garden area. The land will be categorized under protection, similar to the existing regulations in Tribal Belts and Blocks.

Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma informed the assembly that workers receiving pattas under this scheme would also qualify for government support for housing construction.

He further mentioned that a dedicated housing scheme for tea garden workers is on the horizon and will be launched soon.

The Chief Minister also updated legislators on the ongoing land survey work in riverine char areas, following recommendations from the BK Sharma Commission.

He stated that Muslim families residing in these areas before 1951 would also be eligible for land rights.

This survey is part of the Mission Basundhara program, designed to regularize land ownership and address long-standing disputes.

Once the char area survey is finalized, the issuance of pattas in those regions will be considered further, Sarma added. He also announced that the construction of housing units for tea workers through the Assam Tea Corporation (ATC) will commence soon.

In the meantime, the Nagaon district administration has declared that eviction operations will take place on Saturday at Lutumari and Borapani to eliminate encroachments from government and forest land.

The passage of this amendment bill represents a crucial advancement in the state government’s wider agenda to address land rights and enhance living standards for marginalized communities while simultaneously enforcing stricter measures to safeguard public land from illegal occupation.