Guwahati: Members of the Kalita community blocked National Highway 17 at Agia in Assam’s Goalpara district on Monday, demanding recognition as an indigenous community and protection of their land rights under the Assam Land and Revenue Amendment Bill, 2026.
The protest was organised by the Kalita Jatiya Sanmilan, which alleged that provisions of the legislation could exclude members of the community from land rights and other protections.
The organisation demanded that the Kalita community be included in the list of indigenous ethnic communities under the legislation. It also called for the withdrawal of the requirement for three generations of documentary records, with January 1, 2006, as the reference date for establishing original inhabitant status.
The protesters further sought land rights for community members in tribal belts and blocks, Sixth Schedule areas and autonomous regions.
Protesters said they had repeatedly raised concerns with the Assam government over the community’s access to land rights and other benefits but had received no support. They alleged that the Kalita community had been excluded from the protections and privileges under the Assam Land and Revenue Amendment Bill, 2026, leaving them with no option but to take to the streets. They warned that the agitation would be intensified if their demands remained unaddressed.
A woman participant said the community also faced disadvantages in accessing educational opportunities due to the lack of reservation provisions. She alleged that the government’s policies threatened their land rights and argued that, despite their historical roots in Assam, Kalitas were being described as non-indigenous.
Another protester alleged that repeated appeals to the Chief Minister had failed to secure government support on issues relating to education, land and healthcare. The protester also criticised MLAs from the Kalita community for allegedly failing to raise their concerns in the Assembly and warned that their residences could be gheraoed if they did not represent the community’s interests.
A woman participant said Monday’s demonstration was the community’s third protest programme, following earlier agitations at Baihata Chariali and Numaligarh. She further alleged that members of the community had lost the right to buy and sell land. Referring to the community’s historical roots, she claimed that Mahapurush Srimanta Sankardeva also belonged to the Kalita community.
The protest follows the Assam Legislative Assembly’s passage of the Assam Land and Revenue Amendment Bill on July 29, the final day of its 2026 Budget Session.
The legislation was among five bills passed on the final day and faced objections during discussions over the definition of “original inhabitant” and its implications for land rights.
The protesters warned that they would intensify their agitation if the government failed to address their demands.