Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma reviews land rights in Upper Assam, vows faster settlement
Synopsis
Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma convened two back-to-back meetings in Dibrugarh to tackle a persistent backlog of tribal land grievances, announcing Mission Basundhara 4.0 guidelines for the Moran and Matak communities and up to 50 bighas in allotments. With four ministers present and district commissioners placed on notice, the state is signalling that land rights — long a political fault line in Upper Assam — are now a governance priority.
Key Takeaways
Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma chaired two meetings in Dibrugarh on 28 October 2026 to review tribal land grievances in Upper Assam.
Pending cases from Mission Basundhara 2.0 and 3.0 will be reviewed and resolved under Mission Basundhara 4.0 .
Guidelines for the Moran and Matak communities under Mission Basundhara 4.0 will be uploaded to the government portal.
Eligible tribal families may receive allotments of up to 50 bighas of land.
Selected youths from both communities will be trained to help residents file land applications online.
District Commissioners of Lakhimpur , Dhemaji , and Majuli were directed to expedite pending case resolution.
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on 28 October 2026 chaired two high-level meetings at the Chief Minister's Secretariat in Dibrugarh to review land-related grievances of indigenous communities in Upper Assam, reaffirming the state government's commitment to securing permanent land ownership for eligible tribal families.
Key Developments at the Dibrugarh Meetings
The discussions addressed unresolved land settlement applications, complaints related to the Revenue Department, and pending cases earmarked for review under Mission Basundhara 4.0 — the latest phase of the state's flagship land rights programme. Earlier iterations, Mission Basundhara 2.0 and 3.0, had left a backlog of unresolved cases that the government now intends to clear. The meetings also deliberated on the allotment of up to 50 bighas of land to eligible tribal families.
Focus on Moran and Matak Communities
In a separate session with representatives of the Moran and Matak community organisations, Sarma announced that community-specific guidelines under Mission Basundhara 4.0 would be uploaded to the designated government portal. He added that selected youths from areas inhabited by both communities would be trained to assist residents in submitting land-related applications online — a step aimed at reducing procedural barriers that have historically delayed settlement requests. The government is also reportedly considering extending the deadline for premium payments and resolving outstanding land settlement matters within a stipulated timeframe.
What Officials and Ministers Said
Sarma directed District Commissioners of Lakhimpur, Dhemaji, and Majuli to address pending cases and expedite the resolution of public grievances. According to an official statement, the Chief Minister said the government would 'proactively resolve land-related disputes involving eligible tribal families.' The meetings were attended by Revenue Minister Keshab Mahanta, Labour Welfare Minister Rameswar Teli, Tribal Affairs (Plains) Minister Ranoj Pegu, Water Resources Minister Sushanta Borgohain, legislators, senior officials, autonomous council functionaries, and representatives of several community organisations.
Why Land Rights Remain a Flashpoint in Assam
Land ownership and formal settlement have long been contentious issues for indigenous communities in Assam, particularly in Upper Assam, where tribes such as the Moran and Matak have sought legal recognition of customary land use for generations. This is not the first time the state has convened district-level reviews — successive iterations of Mission Basundhara have attempted to clear the backlog since the programme's launch — but the volume of unresolved cases continues to highlight systemic gaps in land administration. Notably, the involvement of four cabinet ministers and multiple autonomous council heads signals the political weight the ruling government is placing on this issue ahead of upcoming electoral cycles.
What Happens Next
The state government is expected to upload Mission Basundhara 4.0 guidelines for the Moran and Matak communities on the portal shortly. Training programmes for community youth are also in the pipeline. Officials will be monitored for compliance with the directive to resolve pending cases within the stipulated timeframe, with the next phase of reviews likely to focus on progress made at the district level.
Point of View
And successive Mission Basundhara rounds have generated applications faster than the state machinery has resolved them. Sarma's decision to personally chair district-level reviews — with four cabinet ministers in attendance — suggests the government is recalibrating its approach ahead of electoral pressures. The real test, however, will be whether Mission Basundhara 4.0 breaks the cycle of backlog accumulation or merely repackages it. Training community youth for online applications is a useful intervention, but structural bottlenecks in revenue administration and forest clearances have historically been the harder problem to solve.
NationPress
28 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Mission Basundhara 4.0 in Assam?
Mission Basundhara 4.0 is the latest phase of the Assam government's land rights programme, designed to review and resolve pending land settlement cases that were left unaddressed under earlier iterations, Mission Basundhara 2.0 and 3.0. It also covers the allotment of up to 50 bighas of land to eligible tribal families and includes specific guidelines for the Moran and Matak communities.
Which tribal communities were discussed at the Dibrugarh meetings?
The meetings specifically addressed the land settlement concerns of the Moran and Matak communities in Upper Assam. District Commissioners from Lakhimpur, Dhemaji, and Majuli were also present to discuss broader tribal land grievances in their jurisdictions.
What did Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma announce for land applicants?
CM Sarma announced that Mission Basundhara 4.0 guidelines for the Moran and Matak communities would be uploaded on the government portal. He also said youths from these communities would be trained to assist residents in submitting land applications online, and that the government would consider extending the deadline for premium payments.
Why are land rights a sensitive issue in Assam?
Land ownership and formal settlement have long been contentious for indigenous communities in Upper Assam, where tribes like the Moran and Matak have sought legal recognition of customary land use for generations. A persistent backlog of unresolved applications and gaps in revenue administration have made this a recurring political and governance challenge in the state.
Who attended the land rights review meetings in Dibrugarh?
The meetings were attended by Revenue Minister Keshab Mahanta, Labour Welfare Minister Rameswar Teli, Tribal Affairs (Plains) Minister Ranoj Pegu, Water Resources Minister Sushanta Borgohain, District Commissioners of Lakhimpur, Dhemaji and Majuli, forest officials, legislators, senior officials, autonomous council functionaries, and representatives of various community organisations.
