On October 20, 2024, Assam’s Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma officially launched Mission Basundhara 3.0 at Srimanta Sankardev Kalakshetra in Guwahati. This initiative aims to grant land rights to indigenous communities, enhancing transparency in land-related services and streamlining the process for securing land ownership.
Background of Mission Basundhara
Mission Basundhara was first launched on October 2, 2021, to address the long-standing issue of land rights for indigenous people. Over the previous phases, it has successfully processed and approved numerous applications, providing formal land ownership to many residents in Assam.
Achievements of Previous Phases
- Mission Basundhara 1.0 (2021-2022): Processed over eight lakh applications within nine months, showing a high demand for land ownership.
- Mission Basundhara 2.0 (2022-2023): Approved land rights for more than two lakh indigenous people, emphasizing the government’s commitment to this cause.
Objectives of Mission Basundhara 3.0
- Secure land ownership for indigenous communities.
- Enhance transparency and efficiency in land services.
- Expedite the allotment process for priority groups.
- Introduce new reforms to improve land-related processes.
Eligibility Criteria for Land Rights
To qualify for land rights under this initiative:
- General Rule: Applicants must prove three generations of ancestry in Assam.
- Exemptions: Scheduled Castes (SC), Scheduled Tribes (ST), Tea Tribes, and Gorkhas are not required to meet the ancestry requirement, recognizing them as the original inhabitants.
Features of Mission Basundhara 3.0
- Review of Pending Cases: Cases from Mission Basundhara 2.0 that are still unresolved will be re-evaluated.
- Digitization: Complete digitization of land records, including annual and periodic pattas.
- Tea Grant Land Conversion: One-time conversion of tea grant land to periodic pattas.
- Bhoodan/Gramland Settlement: Addressing settlement issues of Bhoodan and Gramland lands.
- Mapping and Rules: Publishing updated maps for public understanding and implementing rules for simpler processes.
Upcoming Land Reforms
The Assam government is also set to introduce new reforms:
- Land Passbooks: Issuance of Land Passbooks to all landholders, reinforcing the connection between “Jati, Mati, and Bheti” (identity, land, and base).
- Reduced Premium Rates: Urban residents will benefit from reduced premium rates of 3% of zonal valuation, making land ownership more affordable.
Additional Initiatives Launched
- Project Closed User Group (CUG): A special mobile number series for officials to improve coordination during emergencies.
- Revenue Department’s Digidoc: A digital directory for non-registrable and optional documents to streamline services.
- Financial Grants: CM Sarma announced Rs 1 lakh grants for digital upgrades of Mouzadar offices, modernizing land administration across the state.
Mission Basundhara 3.0 Event Details
| Date | October 20, 2024 |
| Location | Srimanta Sankardev Kalakshetra, Guwahati |
| Launched By | CM Himanta Biswa Sarma |
| Objective | To provide land rights to indigenous people |
| Features | Digitization, land passbooks, reduced premium rates |
Mission Basundhara 3.0 Summary
- Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma launched Mission Basundhara 3.0 on October 20, 2024, in Guwahati.
- The initiative focuses on providing land rights to indigenous communities and improving transparency.
- Mission Basundhara 1.0 and 2.0 have previously processed over 10 lakh applications, granting ownership to many residents.
- Features include digitization of land records, new rules, and reduced premium rates for urban areas.
- Additional initiatives such as Project CUG and Digidoc aim to streamline land services.
Also Read Latest Current Affairs 2024
Mission Basundhara 3.0 is an initiative by the Assam government to provide land rights to indigenous people, ensuring transparency and efficiency in land services.
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma launched the initiative on October 20, 2024.
Applicants must prove three generations of ancestry, except for SC, ST, Tea Tribes, and Gorkhas who are exempted from this requirement.
The mission includes digitization of land records, issuing land passbooks, and reducing premium rates for urban residents.
Project CUG provides special mobile numbers for officials to improve coordination, especially during emergencies.
Over eight lakh applications were processed under Mission Basundhara 1.0 within nine months.
“Jati, Mati, and Bheti” represent the connection between identity, land, and community, symbolizing the importance of land ownership for indigenous people.
