GUWAHATI, Dec 27 - Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal on Wednesday said that the state government would soon carry out a survey of the ceiling surplus land with a view to ensure allotment of land to the landless tea garden workers and also provide myadi patta against the land that has been occupied by them for decades.
The Chief Minister made this assurance to a delegation of Assam Tea Tribes Students� Association during a discussion which was held at the conference hall of the Chief Minister�s office at the Janata Bhawan on Wednesday.
During the discussion, the Chief Minister urged the ATTSA representatives to inform the government about the areas where applications for allotment of land has not been executed yet. He assured the delegation that the State government would secure the land rights of the landless tea garden workers under the new land policy.
The Chief Minister also said that the state government would provide Rs 25,000 each to 10,000 youth of the tea tribe community for taking up small business activities.
The Chief Minister further informed that the state government would appoint two contractual teachers each in 428 schools located in the tea gardens of the state and urged the ATTSA members to extend support to the government in its efforts to set up 100 high schools in the tea garden areas of the state.
Chief Minister Sonowal also informed that the state government would launch a scheme in the name of tea tribe leader Simon Singh Horo under which Rs 10,000 as scholarship would be provided to each successful candidate of the tea tribe community in the High School and Higher Secondary leaving examinations.
The Chief Minister also met a delegation of All Assam Gorkha Students� Union and Assam Gorkha Sanmilan and discussed with them about various issues relating to the community. The Chief Minister informed the delegation that the state government this year had declared Bhatri Dwittiya as a holiday in a few of the districts having high density of Gorkha population and this would be institutionalised in the days to come in an expeditious manner. He also said that the Gorkha Development Council would be reorganised within the next three days and substantial amount of funds would be allotted to the Council. He also assured that the state government would take necessary steps to settle the problems faced by the Gorkha people living in the reserved belts and blocks and also ensure introduction of curriculum on Nepali language in the Gorkha educational institutions.
The Chief Minister also held discussion with various organisations of Mech Kachari community and assured the representatives that the state government would take positive steps for solving all issues affecting the community.
A delegation of Koch-Rajbongshi organisations also met Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal on Wednesday. The delegation thanked the Chief Minister for his positive intervention in addressing the challenges faced by the community. Sonowal informed the delegation that the state government would take more steps for socio-economic and cultural development of the Koch-Rajbongshi community.