Assam Distributes Over 1 Lakh Land Pattas Under Mission Basundhara 3.0

Himanta Biswa Sarma Launches Major Land Rights Drive in Dhemaji

Himanta Biswa Sarma inaugurated the distribution of more than one lakh land pattas to indigenous landless families and public institutions under Mission Basundhara 3.0. The state-level event was held at Deuri Beel in Dhemaji district, where beneficiaries received digital land titles and allotment certificates aimed at resolving long-standing land ownership issues.

Large-Scale Land Settlement

A total of 1,06,905 beneficiaries across Assam were granted land pattas, including 44,700 recipients from Dhemaji, selected due to a high concentration of pending cases. Land settlements were also initiated in previously unsurveyed villages following completion of surveys under the SVAMITVA Scheme .

Additionally, 538 residents of Subansiri and Jiadhal Reserved Forests were granted rights under the Forest Rights Act, 2006 , recognising claims of forest-dwelling communities.

Phased Implementation of Mission Basundhara

Mission Basundhara was introduced to digitise and regularise historically fragmented land records.

• Version 1.0 addressed conversion of annual pattas to periodic pattas and rectified record discrepancies, benefiting 5.82 lakh families.

• Version 2.0 focused on granting land rights to indigenous communities residing on government land, assisting 2.29 lakh families, largely from SC, ST and OBC categories.

The current phase expands coverage and aims to clear remaining disputes.

Administrative Strengthening

Of 903 unsurveyed villages, surveys have been completed in 769, enabling over 30,000 families to receive pattas. Future phases (4.0 and 5.0) will address reclassification issues and pending forest village settlements. A new Integrated District Commissioner’s Office Complex was also inaugurated in Dhemaji to improve governance efficiency.

Important Facts for Exams

• SVAMITVA provides rural property ownership records.

• Forest Rights Act, 2006 recognises land rights of forest dwellers.

• Land pattas grant legal ownership or tenancy rights.

• Periodic pattas provide stronger tenure security than annual pattas.

Mission Basundhara reflects Assam’s effort to institutionalise transparent land governance and expand legal land ownership to historically excluded communities.