Migrants occupy 50 per cent tribal land, says ABSU

Guwahati: The All-Bodo Students’ Union (ABSU) here on Sunday said that at least 50 per cent of the tribal belts and blocks have been occupied by illegal migrants and unauthorised persons in Assam.

Attributing it to the failure of the government in protecting the tribal areas, ABSU president Pramod Boro demanded that recommendation of the committee for protection of land rights of indigenous people, headed by former Chief Election Commissioner H.S. Brahma, be implemented.

Talking to this newspaper, Mr Boro pointed out that interim report of the committee has revealed the threat posed by illegal migration of foreigners into Assam. He regretted that it is unfortunate that the Central as well as the state governments failed to check the infiltration.

The student leader said that there are 47 tribal belts and blocks in Assam, covering an area of 1.28 crore bighas. “But at least 50 per cent of these land is occupied by illegal migrants and other unauthorised persons, forcing the tribal people to shift to forest areas,” he said.

Stating that at least 70 per cent of the tribal people of Assam do not have land patta, he demanded that the government should immediately evict the unauthorised people from the tribal belts and blocks, and settle only the authorised people in such places. He also pointed out that the Forest Dwellers’ Act was not implemented properly in Assam, forcing the tribal people to shift from one place to another.

Mr Boro was of view that all sections of indigenous people of Assam should set aside their political and other differences and join hands for a movement against illegal migration.

“It is a fact that the organisations representing ethnic groups have differences on political and other issues. But there is no reason why we cannot fight together on common issues like illegal migration to protect the interests of the indigenous people,” he said.

Mr Boro is spearheading a movement for separate Bodoland.