Tribal people in Assam are safe and full protected: CM Sonowal

Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal Tuesday said rights of the tribal people living within the Assam State Capital Region Authority (ASCRA) would be fully protected.

Sonowal directed the Guwahati Development Department to take steps to address the apprehensions raised by the Autonomous Councils regarding preservation of the distinct identity of the tribal people and maintaining their rights over land.

Chairing the first meeting of the ASCRA here, the chief minister said the Capital Region Authority was created with a vision to make Guwahati as the hub of South East Asian countries.

The government wanted faster development in the area by making the people major stakeholders of the development process, he said. Keeping in view the apprehensions raised by the Chief Executive Members of Rabha Hasong Autonomous Council and Tiwa Autonomous Council, Sonowal agreed on the need for more clarity on certain provisions of the ASCRA Act concerning land rights of the tribal people.

Emphasising on giving the people living within the region equal opportunity for voicing their concerns and views on the ASCRA, Sonowal directed the Guwahati Development Department (GDD) to convene public meetings in each of the districts falling within the Authority.

GDD Secretary SS Meenakshi Sundaram said 24 revenue circles of five districts - Kamrup (Metro), Kamrup, Nalbari, Darrang, and Morigaon - comprised the Authority with an area of 6137 sq km.

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