Ahoms, Koch Rajbongshis, and Gorkhas to Get Land Rights in Assam

The State Cabinet decided during yesterday's Cabinet meeting at the Assam Secretariat, Dispur, in the Chief Minister's office at Lok Sewa Bhawan.

PTI & Agencies, 24 February 2024: The Assam government declared that people from the Ahom, Koch Rajbongshi, and Gorkha communities who have been occupying land since 2011 will be added to the list of protected classes of people in the Balipara tribal belt to protect the land rights of indigenous communities in the state.

The State Cabinet decided during yesterday's Cabinet meeting at the Assam Secretariat, Dispur, in the Chief Minister's office at Lok Sewa Bhawan.

Following the Cabinet meeting, the Assam government revealed in an announcement that the Ahom, Koch Rajbongshi, and Gorkha communities will be added to the list of protected classes of people in the Balipara Tribal Belt who had been occupying the area before 2011.

The notification also recognises the Ahoms, Koch Rajbongshis, and Gorkhas as “bona fide” Indian citizens.

In the cabinet meeting, the Assam government made multiple decisions regarding long pending community issues related to land and language. It gave a nod to Tribal languages: Rabba, Karbi, Tiwa, Deori, and Dimasa to be mediums of instruction in the foundational stage of primary education in Assam.

The state cabinet also recognises Manipuri as an associate official language by passing the Assam Official Language (Amendment) Bill to recognise Manipuri as associate official language in four districts on Friday. Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma said it will protect, preserve, and promote cultural and linguistic identity, and heritage of the Manipuri People of Assam.