Meghalaya government grants land ownership rights to tribal households

 Digital Desk: Despite Meghalaya not having clear land titles, unlike other regions of India, Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma on Friday awarded land ownership rights to tribal residents of Reserve Gittim hamlet in West Garo Hills.

At a ceremony, Sangma gave "Land Patta" to 100 tribal homes, satisfying long-standing requests from the landowners. According to officials, the northeastern state lacked clear land titles because of its distinctive and traditional 'Jhum cultivation' (burn and shifting).

 The indigenous people of Meghalaya have been asking acknowledgement of their land rights since since the states were reorganised and Meghalaya was granted statehood in 1972. Meghalaya was created by separating two districts from the state of Assam, where more than 86% of the three million residents are tribal. The necessity for a distinct demarcation of land and its ownership developed as modern farming became more prevalent.

The indigenous people of Meghalaya have been asking acknowledgement of their land rights since since the states were reorganised and Meghalaya was granted statehood in 1972. Meghalaya was created by separating two districts from the state of Assam, where more than 86% of the three million residents are tribal. The necessity for a distinct demarcation of land and its ownership developed as modern farming became more prevalent.

The settlement procedure, according to West Garo Hills district deputy commissioner Swapnil Tembe, is crucial. The land settlement process is crucial for every application, including bank loans and land documentation. The Forest Rights Act of 2006 was passed by the UPA government at the Center, which is led by the Congress, to recognise the rights of tribal and forest-dwelling communities that had ownership of forest land on or before December 13, 2005.