HT Bureau
DIPHU, Nov 1: BJP spokespersons from East Karbi Anglong have extended their support for the Chief Executive Member (CEM) of the Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council (KAAC), Tuliram Ronghang, in his initiative to distribute 2 lakh free land pattas under the program ‘Purthimi Akemang’ to indigenous communities residing in the two hill districts of Karbi Anglong and West Karbi Anglong.
During a press conference at the Hill People Cultural Forum (HPCF) office on Thursday, Laichan Engleng, spokesperson for the BJP-East Karbi Anglong District Committee (KADCC), stated that the CEM’s efforts to protect the land of indigenous communities by providing land pattas deserve appreciation.
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“Many villagers cannot prepare land pattas on their own, but now the Land & Revenue Department is going to provide them for free. This initiative by the CEM needs recognition,” Engleng added.
They also criticised the All Party Hills Leaders Conference (APHLC) for opposing the KAAC’s initiative.
“While villagers are excited about receiving land pattas, the APHLC has begun to mislead the public by criticizing the scheme. There is infighting within the APHLC, and to deflect attention from their issues, they are spreading falsehoods about the KAAC,” Engleng stated.
Engleng further urged the APHLC leaders to stop opposing the KAAC’s efforts and instead support the initiative, which aims to protect the land of indigenous people. He emphasised that the APHLC should not accuse the KAAC of allegedly selling land to outsiders without any evidence.
Another spokesperson, Chomang Kro, stated that the ‘Purthimi Akemang’ program is designed to provide land pattas to deserving villagers who are unable to apply for them on their own.
“This is a genuine effort to help villagers, not intended for any political gain. It is the APHLC that is trying to exploit this for political benefit by calling for an end to the scheme. If the scheme is halted, it will be the villagers who suffer,” Kro said.
Meanwhile, Karbi Anglong Territorial Social Security Association (KATSSA), a social organisation in Karbi Anglong, has raised concerns about certain loopholes in the Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council (KAAC) flagship program ‘Purthimi Akemang,’ which aims to distribute free land pattas to indigenous communities in Karbi Anglong and West Karbi Anglong.
Regarding the KAAC’s initiative, KATSSA president Semson Engti, at a press conference held at Forest IB on Friday, stated that before the Lok Sabha elections in 2024, KATSSA submitted a memorandum to the KAAC CEM and to BJP East Karbi Anglong district committee president Roland Killing, requesting action on issuing land pattas to villagers, including those living across state and district lines.
During that meeting, Killing assured the organisation that the BJP government would address these issues after the elections. KATSSA also demanded the withdrawal of land pattas being issued to non-indigenous communities.
Engti noted that V-forms were being distributed at polling stations and party meetings.
“Distributing V-forms in party meetings is meant for political purposes. These meetings typically involve only party workers and supporters. Distributing B-forms at such meetings does not serve the interests of indigenous communities and facilitates access for all. Government officials should implement these schemes without party involvement,” Engti stated.
He urged officials from the ARO office to directly visit villages and consult local headmen to identify genuine individuals from the scheduled tribes before distributing forms.
Engti further stated that while the KAAC claimed that 5.61 lakh land pattas had been distributed previously, villagers have reported no records in the ARO office, with discrepancies in dag numbers and plot numbers.
“We demand that land pattas be distributed only to indigenous communities. The ruling party should not use this for publicity but should genuinely value the needs of villagers. The KAAC must take bold steps to protect the land of indigenous people,” Engti asserted.
He also called for stricter oversight from the Taxation Department regarding trading licenses issued to non-scheduled tribe individuals operating businesses in the district. He highlighted that money laundering is flourishing without the department’s knowledge, with outsiders engaging in such activities without proper permissions and documentation, leading to significant losses in revenue.
“The Taxation Department must regulate money laundering and enforce strict measures to curb these practices,” Engti concluded.
