A national seminar on land alienation of the indigenous tribal people in India, adequate measures for protection of it, preservation of their identity with language and socio-cultural values, with special reference to the land problem of Tripura and other tribal areas of NE was held at the District Library auditorium in Guwahati on Thursday.
The seminar was organized by the National Federation for New States (NFNS), an umbrella organization for coordination and collaboration for an effective struggle for emancipation of marginalized and voiceless communities.
The national seminar was chaired by Shrihari Aney, president, NFNS and former Advocate General of Maharashtra.
In the keynote address, Pramod Boro, joint secretary, NFNS and president of All Bodo Students’ Union (ABSU), stated, “The seminar is being organized to deepen the understanding of the nuances of cause of land alienation, marginalization of tribes in India, ever diminishing chance of a dignified living for a tribe with their identity thereby deliberate on ways and means to prevent tribal land alienation, protection, preservation and development of tribal culture, language, heritage and history.”
The ABSU president also said, “Land should be owned by those who really need it for their living but not those who want to do business, so government must have a policy of land protection and land use in proper way. And we as a civil society have the united voice and movement to protect our land for our future generation and healthy environment.”
Dhananjoy Debbarma, Tripura Civil Society, elaborated about the land status of the Tripura regarding the legal position of land laws in Tripura.
He proposed the amendment to the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution including the direct funding to Sixth Schedule, and empowering the Tripura District Council on land rights with legislative power. He sought holistic amendment to the TLRR Act to ensure the land rights of the tribals in Tripura.
Aditya Khakhalry, general secretary, All Assam Triban Sangha (AATS), said, “NFNS will have to make a special roadmap for better solution to the land problem of tribals in India. Tribals have long been
He suggested that, it is high time, the 1886 land law of Assam be replaced with the very comprehensive pro people New Land Law in Assam, securing elaborately the Chapter X of the Assam Land and Revenue Regulation 1886.
Pratibha Brahma, vice-president, Tribal Co-Operative Marketing Development Federation of India Limited (TRIFED), said, “In spite of the Tripura land law placed under Ninth schedule, it has not given protection for tribal lands from the transfer to a non tribal.”
Khorsing Teron, chairman of Joint Action Committee for Autonomous State, Karbi State, said, “The NFNS should take initiative to engage the social scientists and anthropologists to extensive understanding and make a road map to secure the tribal lands in the Northeast.”
Govinda Basumatary, general secretary, NDFB(P), sought implementation of the ST and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Rights) Act, 2006 besides inclusion of Assam Land and Revenue Regulations 1886 the Chapter X in Ninth Schedule.
Urkhao Gwra Brahma, former MP (RS) and president, UPPL, said, “The 70% of the tribal land are under the tribals but the State is ruled by the non-tribals in Tripura. The de-notification of the tribal belt and blocks leading to large displacement of the indigenous population of the tribals in Assam is also a grave nature of tribal land rights in Assam.”