Assam: MSME Ordinance controversy reminds Govt of its promise to protect ‘Jati, Mati, Bheti’

The controversy triggered by the MSME Ordinance, which was passed by the Assam cabinet on June 29^th, 2020, has reminded the Bharatiya Janata Party-led state government of its promises to protect ‘Jati, Mati, Bheti’.

The state Commerce and Industry Minister Chandra Mohan Patowary on July 9^th, 2020 reiterated the government’s commitment to protect the rights of the indigenous people.

“The State Government, led by Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal, is fully committed to protect the rights of the indigenous people. This Government will never do anything that may cause any harm to the interest of the sons of the soil. The ethos of the present State Government in all its plans and initiatives remains the same – the conviction to secure ‘jati, mati, bheti’ of the people of the State without any compromise,” the minister said in a press conference here in Guwahati yesterday.

He further informed that the process to provide land pattas (deeds) to 1 lakh indigenous people of the state by December 2020 has been initiated.

Also read: Assam on sale? Govt faces flak over easing out industry set-up process

“The Government has formulated a land policy for the indigenous people who have been deprived of land rights for seven decades since Independence. As such, land pattas (deeds) were provided to 45, 261 landless indigenous families of the State. The process has been initiated to provide land pattas (deeds) to 1 lakh landless indigenous people of the State by the month of December,” he added.

Meanwhile, he informed that a provision has been proposed to be made in the draft MSME Ordinance that all the provisions of the Assam Agricultural Land (Regulation of Reclassification and Transfer for Non-Agricultural Purpose) Act, 2015 and other land laws will have to be followed and adhered for setting up of any enterprise and no exemption will be given under the aforesaid Act or any land related Act for any business initiative or business enterprise.

“Earlier there was a provision that after getting the Acknowledgment Certificate, agricultural land was proposed to be deemed converted for non-agriculture purpose to set up an industry. But now it is proposed that so far land is concerned, no such exemption will be given. The business enterprises will have to take all the permission, clearance and approval related to land before starting any industry,” the minister added.

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