Land entitlements for ST, forest dwellers in 3 months: Gogoi

Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi today said the process of granting land entitlements to Scheduled Tribes and other forest dwellers under Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act will be completed within three months.
There has been delay due to some problems in implementation of the Act but "our Government is committed to granting over 30,000 land entitlements to ST and other forest dwellers in the State in the next three months," Gogoi said.
Deputy Commissioners have been directed to expedite the process in this regard, he said while addressing a public meeting on the occasion of land entitlements to forest dwellers organised by the All Bodo Students' Union (ABSU) at Chariduar in Sonitpur district.

He said the government would soon constitute a district- wise coordination committee with representatives drawn from different tribal communities to complete the process for granting land entitlements.
"The Act enacted by the UPA Government upholds the rights of forest-dwelling communities to land and other resources, denied to them over decades," Gogoi said.
It redresses the historical injustice committed against forest dwellers and includes provisions for more effective and transparent conservation, he said.
The state government is committed towards the development of all communities and has constituted Development Councils for this purpose, he said.
"We are committed not only towards the development of Bodos living in Bodoland Territorial Area District but also those living outside it and the process of granting of land entitlements to them has already begun," the Chief Minister added.