Skip to content Skip to navigation

Conflict in BTAD, Issue of Influx and Land Alienation in Assam


"Conflict in BTAD, Issue of Influx and Land Alienation in Assam: Problems and Perspectives"


Date: November 8, 2012
Venue: Mavalanka Auditorium, Constitution Club, Rafi Marg, New Delhi.




Where is the end of the conflict?


Conflict is ever unwanted but inevitable in the society and its civilization as I understand. Conflict emanates certain course of development and entire world has the more or less similar history. And yet conflicts of certain areas require special focus and understanding in order to reduce the same. Government agencies, NGOs, Civil Society organizations and all others also have achieved very little in conflict resolution despite their honest efforts due to lack of proper understanding the problems and issues of North East India.


The recent conflict in Western Assam districts, especially in the Bodo and Muslim dominated areas of Assam taught many lessons to us how multidimensional and complex the problems can be. We have seen how dubious the behavior of the government can be in such a situation. Keeping in view of all these one can only exclaim about when will the conflict end in North East India and people will enjoy the fruits peace.



Conflict in Assam and North East: Most of the conflict in the North East Region of India is taking place because of right of control over Land, Resources and Identity issues. The Tribes big or small in number, does not matter, but there is a natural impulse for dignified living among them upholding their own distinct identity. There is nothing wrong in this, but in the complicated demographic pattern equal rights and privilege itself is a big concern. The tribes also overlap in their territorial claims. A tribe ruling a particular territory is being in ruled in another same contiguous region. The Tribal habitats are equally cohabitated by the sizeable numbers of non-tribal people also. In such a scenario very often rights of the non-tribal and tribal over land gets very complicated. The existing policies and laws relating to tribal land restrict the rights of the non-tribal. But there has been a continuous effort by the Government to interpose the rights of the non-tribal within the shrinking tribal territory. This is one of the major areas of contradiction which at times had led to physical conflict. Hence, an effective and comprehensive policy initiative is the need of the hour to permanently resolve this contradiction causing conflicts of different nature.



Issue of Influx:


This issue is not a mere problem but is a serious crisis of epidemic nature for the region of India. We are all aware about the state of Tripura where the indigenous population is being completely submerged by the people of neighboring Bangladesh. The similar problem is being faced by Assam and other states like Manipur, Meghalaya and Nagaland. Due to rapidly increasing population of immigrant population the pressure on land, water and forest has grown tremendously which are source of survival for the local indigenous population. The widening demographic imbalance between the locals and the immigrant population also has severe implication on the politics of the state.


The government despite owning moral responsibility of detecting and deporting the foreigners through Assam Accord of 1985 has miserably failed to do so. The successive government led by different political parties have kept the issues alive by raising them to garners votes but has never took holistic approach and initiative to resolve the problems permanently.



Tribal Land Issue:


Land is inalienable part of human being; in particular it is the source of life for Tribes. The majority of tribal’s have not learned any other way of livelihood except agriculture. The current development paradigm and initiatives have conveniently failed to reach out to the tribal world of this country. So it is important for us to agree to a principle that Land cannot be separated from Tribes and Bodos are no different.


The intense struggle of the tribes in the northeast is mainly for protection of their Land and Identity. I hope when policy makers of the nation will understand this situation than only the problems in the northeast India can be addressed effectively. If the government just continue to play the role of mere a donor than the problems in the region will remain as what it is today.


Hence, I would like to appeal the intellectuals, policy makers and leaders to devote adequate time and make genuine efforts to address the almost a century old problems. So far there are two separate regulations for administering the Tribal Land in the North East India. One being the Sixth Scheduled of Indian Constitution to administer the Land of Hill Tribes and another being Assam Land and Revenue Act of 1886 for regulating land inhabited by plains tribal of Assam. Except the Bodoland Territorial Council which has double edge sword due to having covered by both Sixth Scheduled and Assam Land and Revenue Regulation Act 1886. This particular Act has been amended sufficiently at various point of time from 1947 to1990. But ironically this Act which has the teeth to protect the tribal land from being encroached has been conveniently ignored and result today is Tribes gradually becoming minority in their own Land.



About the Recent Clash:


The causes of recent conflict that displaced more than 400,000 people and took 88 precious lives belonging to different communities like Bodos, Muslims, Rabhas, Garos, Bengali Hindus and so on still remains a mystery. Though different individuals and groups have their own versions of this conflict ranging from terming it as Bodos and Muslims, Indigenous versus Foreigners and forth. Some of our remotely located intellectuals termed it as ethnic cleansing drive by Bodos.


But the post conflict analyses by All Bodo Students Union points the reason towards the contradictory concerns by tribals and non-tribals. In one hand the Tribals are demanding protection of their land and identity on the other hand the non-tribals are demanding for curtailing tribal rights including scrapping the Accord of Bodoland Territorial Council. The non-tribals claims that the Tribes despite being minority are ruling the majority and on the other hand the tribes questions how they became minority in Tribal Belt and Blocks which is constitutionally being created for protecting the Tribal Land only in Tribal dominated areas. There begins the contradiction manifesting in many more such contradiction that probably must have led to the conflicts such as the recent one.



What can be Possible Way Forward:



-- The issue of illegal immigration should be considered as national issue and response should to this issue should also be taken as a nation.


-- Government should take immediate steps to resolve all impending political problems to ensure protection of land and other civil rights.


-- Government should effectively implement existing land law (Chapter X, Assam Land and Revenue Regulation Act 1886) for the protection of Tribal Belt and Blocks.


-- The process to update National Register of Citizens must be completed as early as possible.


-- The elements who promote hatreds must be identified and dealt with firmly.


-- An effective long term initiative must be taken for communal harmony in the region.


-- A separate commission should be established by the ministry of home affairs engaging to deal with NE Issues, the issues like Land, Influx, Extremism, Conflict etc.


-- A holistic approach should be adopted for sustainable development of Tribal inhabited areas of India.

Comments

jwngsar's picture

None of the mainstream media organizations in Assam has reported on the perspectives of the Tribals about the violence happening in the land of their ancestors. Most of the narratives being put forth are those which subscribes to and benefits the mainstream..

Pages

Add new comment

Random Stories

MP Sarania slammed BPF

27 Jun 2014 - 7:36pm | Hantigiri Narzary
The Kokrajhar Lok Sabha MP Naba Kumar Sarania(Hira) expressed his  optimistic that Congress will gain its party status as well to identify main culprits involved with carnage in May 1 and 2 in...

Cut-off score of Tangla College rises all time high

25 Jun 2016 - 9:33pm | Shajid Khan
As you walk into the daunting Tangla college for admissions , the apprehension and tension is palpable. Armed with board exam results, the admission process is in full swing with sky high cut-offs...

Issue not properly raised in House

13 Aug 2015 - 1:53pm | AT News
Parliamentary affairs minister Rockybul Hussain said that the BJP MLAs should have raise the issue following the laid down rules of the House. The Speaker on Wednesday asked the BJP MLAs to follow...

Dengue campaign

17 Aug 2014 - 4:17pm | Hantigiri Narzary
The Bodoland Students Union(BSU) in association with district vector disease controll programme oragnised  a source reduction campaign on dengue in Kokrajhar town involving ward commissioner and...

Other Contents by Author

More trouble awaits the Asom Gana Parishad hardly a year before the Assembly polls. The tussle between Prafulla Kumar Mahanta and Atul Bora seems to have posed a serious threat to the regional party’s poll prospect.The widening difference between the former chief minister and one time loyalist and working president Atul Bora takes the centrestage of a simmering conflict within the regional party.Senior party leaders told Assam Times that    Mahanta’s loyalists what the founder president should be restored six months after he went on leave. They further claimed that the party’s general council allowed the former chief minister to go on leave only for six months. Then the council...
Rongjeng, the name of a tiny spot atop the East Garo Hills in Meghalaya seems to have dressed afresh. People in this beautiful place are busy with preparing for the Rongjeng Festival slated to begin from March 20.The two days event, first of its kind in this place aims at showcasing their produces, wares, handlooms and handicrafts before the tourists of the country and abroad.Ethnic culture and cuisine of the people are expected to steal the focus in the  market.Entrepreneur from Assam and Nagaland are also expected join the event. Several state government departments have confirmed participation in the first village trade fair by holding stalls to make the people aware of the schemes...
Jorhat turns into a hotspot for business tycoons from many parts of the globe as the international trade fair is underway.  Business tycoons from Afghan, Myanmar, Nepal along with other parts of the world are attending in the mega commercial event which got off to a colourful start on Thursday.In his opening speech, chief minister Tarun Gogoi tried his best to woo the investors citing comfortable situation and potentials.Nepal’s Acting Ambassador to India Krishna Prasad Dhakal Ambassador to India from Shaida Mohammad Abdali, Myanmar’s Sagaing Region Minister for Electricity and Industry U Kyaw Win were among those who listened to Gogoi.Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi stressed investment...
Hours after Tarun Gogoi allocated portfolios to his new council of ministers, the chief ministers exuded his confidence on Monday that the ministers would deliver the goods. Talking to reporters in Guwahati in the afternoon, Gogoi said that he reposed full faith on the new council of ministers.He however, has kept social welfare with him apart from retained home, finance portfolios.           
Rongson Das is disappointed on the day of Magh Bihu. The local resident of Aahotguri area in Morigaon district spared no pain to train up his buffalo to be fielded in the fight on Thursday.  Till Tuesday he was confident that his animal would steal the show. But the things have taken an unexpected turn. There would no buffalo fight this time. The Assam Government has restricted the game scheduled for Thursday and Friday.“I am totally disappointed. What I left undone to help my animal win this time. But of no avail. Today I am not joining the festival when I got the details of the government instruction,” the 50 year old told Assam Times.Same it is in the case of Bihuwa Kalita whose...
Defying a biting cold wave mejis were burning bright to mark the magh bihu celebration across the state on Thursday.Amid traditional pomp and gaiety, people in Lakhimpur, Dhemaji, Sivasagar, Jorhat, Golaghat districts lit up the wooden mejis early in the morning after the whole night feasting and merriment.Traditional straw mejis were lit up in Kamrup, Nalbari, Sonitpur, Barpeta, BTAD areas along with other parts of the state offering pujas to the god of fire. Local people in large thronged the burning mejis seeking divine help from the fire god. Cultural programmes, traditional games and competitions and are lined up for the entire day. Home made sweets, beaten rice, pastries are...
Yet another chance awaits the North East to showcase its culture, tourism potential and exclusive traits in New Delhi. The national capital is all set to host a mega North-East festival in April.Tour operators, travel agents, cultural troops, film and television industries have eince keen interest to hold the event in the national capital. Steps are also on to finalise a brand ambassador for the region.  
Hari Shankar Brahma is taking over as Chief Election Commissioner succeeding VS Sampath who retires on Thursday. Brahma, who hails from Assam is taking oath from president Pranab Mukherjee at a brief function. Brahma’s tenure as the chief election commissioner will end in April this year.  
Supreme Court on Wednesday talked of two options before the government to end the decade old Assam-Nagaland border row. Taking up a petition in the apex court, a division bench headed by Justice TS Thakur said the dispute could be resolved either by deciding the 1988 law suit filed by Assam or by referring the matter for arbitration.The court further asked the Assam counsel to file the list of its witnesses along with their testimonies in the form of affidavits with the apex court registrar within three months. It directed the Registrar General to conduct the trial in the lawsuit on "day-to-day" basis from April 20 and said the witnesses, whose affidavits will be filed by Assam, will have...
At least ten people sustained injury when security forces sprang upon a huge crowd in Sonitpur district on Wednesday. The incident that sends shockwaves across the state on the eve of the bhogali bihu took place in Rongapara when local residents in large number thronged the police station in the morning demanding immediate release of a youth who was allegedly arrested as NDFB-S rebel during the ongoing joint operation.Senior police official tried to quell the protesters who refused to bend and struck to the demand. Police resorted t lathicharge and blank firing following an altercation. All the injured were rushed to the hospital. Several parties, organizations and individuals...