TURA: Several organisations from Tikrikilla and its adjoining areas have supported the resolution taken by the GHADC on July 2 to provide one-time settlement to genuine residents of B-Mahal areas and urged the Council to expedite the process at the earliest.
Different units of the organisations including those of the GSU, FKJGP, AYC, ADE, AIGU, AYWO, AIJIF, ASWA, AGPF, FAF and AAYF along with traditional heads, nokmas and gaonburas of the region on Tuesday, submitted a joint representation to GHADC CEM, Dipul R Marak lauding the decision taken by his executive committee (EC) with regard to the settlement.
The organisations informed that tribal people under B-Mahal areas are being deprived of their privileges and rights governed under the Sixth Schedule in terms of land rights.
“99 per cent of genuine tribal residents are yet to acquire land rights over their residential or agriculture lands despite enjoying the right to use and occupy the land since the pre-independence era. They have been deprived of loans, compensations and schemes due to failure to produce the land lease when sought for official purposes,” they said.
The organisations added that many residential and agriculture land of tribals under A and B-Mahal of Mouza No III, IV and V lie along the interstate border with Assam, which makes it prone to problems in terms of border disputes, external oppression, land alienation and encroachments due to absence of permanent land autonomy.
“One-time settlement or granting lease of undisputed lands will serve as evidence to claim such lands as part and parcel of GHADC and the state. It will also help to preserve the culture and identities of indigenous tribals which cannot be done without maintaining full control and acquiring land rights, which we rightfully possess as enshrined in the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution,” the organisations said.