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Government to Set Up Task Force for Land Governance in Northeastern States

May 10, 2023, New Delhi: According to the Ministry of Rural Development, Government of India, a task force would be established for land governance in the northeastern States soon. The decision was taken at the National Conference on “Land Governance in the Northeastern States” held in Guwahati, Assam on May 3–4.

In light of the extensive work that needs to be done in the North-Eastern States, the Secretary of Land Resources has announced that a Task Force for Land Governance in the North-Eastern States will be established after following the proper procedures, with the Competent Authority’s approval and after consulting with the various Autonomous District Councils.

The Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration in Mussoorie, along with the Department of Land Resources, arranged the National Conference with assistance from the Revenue Department of the Government of Assam. The National Conference was presided over by Shri Ajay Tirkey, Secretary of the Department of Land Resources.

At the Conference, the Territorial and Autonomous District Councils of the States of Assam, Tripura, Mizoram, and Meghalaya concurred that the digitization and modernization of land records are crucial for development.

Sessions on current state practices, modernization of land records, a framework for assessing land governance, sessions on customary and indigenous laws, current practices, new initiatives, and the role of the Survey of India in modernizing land records were among the topics discussed at the first-ever national conference of this kind.

Participants in the National Conference included representatives from the Bodoland Territorial Council, Karbi Anglong Autonomous District Council, Dima Hasao Autonomous District Council (all in Assam), Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous Council, Lai Autonomous District Council, Mizoram, Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council, Garo Hills Autonomous District Council, and Jaintia Hills Autonomous District Council (all in Meghalaya).

Senior officers including Shri Sonmoni Borah, Joint Secretary, Department of Land Resources, Shri Gyanendra Dev Tripathi, Principal Secretary, Government of Assam, Ms. Anandhi, Deputy Director, Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration, Mussoorie, Shri P.V. Rajasekhar, Additional Surveyor General, Survey of India, Ms. Mridula Singh, Senior Social Development Specialist, World Bank, and others were also present.

In addition to praising Ms. Anandhi, Deputy Director, LBSNAA for organizing the Conference, Shri Ajay Tirkey, Secretary, Department of Land Resources, made it clear that while the Autonomous District Councils in the North-Eastern States felt the need to digitize and modernize their land records was a step forward, all efforts would be made to support the Councils within the parameters of the Constitution and established laws.

As part of the Digital India Land Records Modernization Programme (DILRMP), Shri Sonmoni Borah, Joint Secretary, requested that the various autonomous district councils submit their proposals for the digitization and modernization of land records. The Bodoland Territorial Council had put out a proposal for the modernisation and digitization of land records, and the Department of Land Resources had formally accepted the same as a start in this direction.