Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma expressed concerns on Thursday about the state’s future, stating that the declining population balance between Hindus and Muslims poses a significant challenge. During his Independence Day speech, Sarma highlighted that the indigenous people of Assam are increasingly becoming a minority in 12-13 districts due to demographic changes.
Sarma pointed out that the Hindu population, which once constituted 60-65% of the state, has now dropped to around 57%, while the Muslim population has risen to 41% as of 2021. He urged all communities to adhere to family planning norms and cautioned against polygamy, emphasising the need to restore the population balance.
The Chief Minister also discussed the government’s efforts to protect indigenous land and interests. He announced that the government has reclaimed 167 square kilometers of forest land from encroachers, attributing the encroachment primarily to one community.
He further stated that a strong law would be introduced to prevent the sale of land by indigenous communities, such as tribals and Adivasis, to others in the undivided Goalpara district.
To safeguard the land rights of communities like Koch-Rajbongshi, Bodo, and Rabha, the Revenue Department plans to introduce new legislation in the upcoming Assembly session. Sarma also mentioned the creation of micro tribal belts outside existing tribal areas to ensure land protection.
Starting October 2, the Assam government will launch the third edition of Mission Basundhara, aimed at granting land rights to indigenous people in the hills of Guwahati. Sarma also announced plans to return tea garden land to workers, with a policy to be unveiled soon.
In addition to land reforms, the Chief Minister revealed plans to introduce a state domicile policy to ensure that only locals can secure government jobs. He also expressed his commitment to resuming the National Register of Citizens (NRC) update process, which was halted due to the suspension of 9.22 crore biometric records.
Sarma emphasised the government’s progress in reducing child marriage, noting that 5,413 cases had been filed by May 31 this year, with many resulting in convictions. He vowed to eradicate child marriage in Assam by 2026, emphasising education as a critical tool in this fight.
(With inputs from PTI)
