Dibrugarh adivasi students' body seeks land rights

Dibrugarh: Chanting slogans and holding placards for land pattas (legal document as proof of ownership of land), members of the All Adivasi Students’ Association of Assam (AASAA) marched to the district commissioner’s office on Thursday, demanding land rights for the landless Adivasis of the state.

AASAA Dibrugarh district president Nipen Munda expressed frustration with the state govt’s unfulfilled promises of providing land to the adivasi people, under the Basundhara programme. “The govt had promised 8 bighas of land for the landless adivasis, under its Basundhara programme. However, most of them have received nothing. Some of them have got only given 2-3 bighas, which is inadequate,” Munda said.

The adivasi community, which originally hails from central India, were brought to the state by the British in the early 19th century from the Chotanagpur plateau.

“From 1831 onwards, adivasis were brought to Assam as indentured labourers to work in tea estates. Now, we find ourselves in a situation where many of us lack even basic land rights, despite having contributed immensely to the industry,” Munda said.

AASAA Dibrugarh district general secretary Pallob Paharia said the adivasi population approximately represented 20% of the state’s 3.12 crore residents, but most of them did not have land ownership. “Many adivasis still live and work in tea plantations, contributing to the economy. But they don’t have the security of land ownership,” he said.

Later, AASAA leaders handed over a memorandum, addressed to CM Sarma, to DC Bikram Kairi, outlining their demands.

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