The Assam government will consider “top priority” the task of providing land to landless families in the state in the next five years, with the prime focus on those affected by floods, erosion and riots.
“The number of landless families in Assam is very high, and there are a large number of families who have lost their homestead and land due to river-bank erosion. There are also people rendered homeless due to riots,” Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi said.
The announcement came three days after Gogoi had said a committee would be formed to frame the policy incorporating issues related to land settlement to landless people, poor marginalised section and those affected by flood and erosion. “The government will take into account every aspect. The committee will go into the gamut of issues relating to the land policy for the entire state,” Gogoi said.
He said that an assessment was on to find out the exact number of homeless and landless families.
The announcement comes close on the heels of a statewide protest against the eviction of several families who had encroached upon government land.
