A united front of eight prominent Islamic organisations in Assam has formally appealed to the state government to include eligible Muslim communities under its flagship Mission Basundhara scheme. The groups, addressing a joint press conference in Guwahati on Saturday, emphasized the urgent need for land rights for poor and landless Muslim families across the state.
Spokespersons for the coalition urged the administration to expedite the issuance of land pattas to economically disadvantaged and landless Muslims. Furthermore, they called for a comprehensive survey specifically targeting the char (riverine islands) and chapori (flood-prone) areas of Assam, where many vulnerable communities reside without secure land tenure.
This collective appeal comes days after Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma indicated in the Assam Legislative Assembly that his government was open to considering the registration of eligible Indian Muslims under the land settlement programme. A representative for the Islamic organisations noted that the Chief Minister had indeed raised the matter in the Assembly, signaling a potential pathway for their inclusion.
The gathering in Guwahati also served as a platform for these organisations, including the All Assam Ahle Sunnat Madrassa Education Board, to clarify their collective stance on various contemporary political and social issues impacting the community. Their unified voice underscores a concerted effort to advocate for the rights and welfare of Muslims in Assam.
The groups expressed hope that the state government and the Chief Minister would respond positively to their plea, ensuring that land security, a fundamental right, is extended equitably to all deserving citizens.
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