Assam Chief Minister, Himanta Biswa Sarma, announced initiatives aimed at reclaiming ‘chars’ and establishing heritage belts to preserve ecological integrity and cultural heritage.
Mission Basundhara 4.0: Reclaiming Chars
- The government will launch Mission Basundhara 4.0 to reclaim sandbars or river ‘islands’ (chars) from encroachers.
- A survey will be conducted, and eviction measures will be taken.
- Objective: Safeguard ecological balance while addressing landlessness.
Heritage Belts and Blocks
- Establishment of heritage belts and blocks to protect religious and historic sites from non-indigenous land acquisition.
- Initial focus areas: Majuli, Narayanpur, Barpeta, and Batadrava.
- Objective: Preserve cultural heritage and ensure safety for future generations.
Mission Basundhara Progress
- Mission Basundhara 1.0: Introduced to facilitate indigenous people in securing land deeds.
- Mission Basundhara 2.0: Granted land pattas to 2.3 lakh out of 13 lakh applicants, with relaxed document requirements.
- Challenges: Stringent implementation caused difficulties for Adivasis.
- Future inclusion: Tea garden workers (Adivasis) and Gurkha community exempted from strict document requirements.
Political Implications
- Adivasis, Gurkhas, Scheduled Castes, and Scheduled Tribes are significant voter demographics.
- Political shifts: These groups have reportedly shifted loyalty from Congress to BJP over the past two decades.
Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs):
- What is the primary objective of Mission Basundhara 4.0?
a) Promote tourism in Assam
b) Reclaim land in char areas
c) Expand agricultural practices
d) Implement healthcare initiatives
Answer: b) Reclaim land in char areas - Which areas will be considered as heritage belts and blocks initially?
a) Kaziranga National Park
b) Guwahati city center
c) Majuli, Narayanpur, Barpeta, and Batadrava
d) Brahmaputra River delta
Answer: c) Majuli, Narayanpur, Barpeta, and Batadrava - What was the major challenge faced during the implementation of Mission Basundhara 2.0?
a) Lack of government support
b) Stringent document requirements
c) Insufficient funding
d) Limited public awareness
Answer: b) Stringent document requirements - Which communities are exempted from producing documents of three previous generations under Mission Basundhara 2.0?
a) Indigenous tribes
b) Non-local settlers
c) Tea garden workers (Adivasis) and Gurkha community
d) Urban residents
Answer: c) Tea garden workers (Adivasis) and Gurkha community