Who is a ‘Khilonjiya’? Himanta clarifies eligibility under proposed Assam land bill

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on September 7 sought to allay concerns over the definition of an “original inhabitant” (Khilonjiya) under the proposed Assam Land and Revenue Regulation Amendment Bill, saying anyone whose family has lived in the state for three generations would qualify for the status.

Sarma said the provision was broadly in line with the spirit of Clause 6 of the Assam Accord, with families residing in Assam before 1951 generally falling within the definition.

Responding to concerns raised by members of the Kalita community over provisions relating to protected areas around major cultural institutions, the chief minister said the core clause of the proposed legislation had been misunderstood.

On the proposed protection of land within a 5-km radius of historic Satras and cultural sites in places such as Barpeta, Batadrava and Majuli, Sarma said communities living in these areas—including Kalitas, Brahmins, Koch-Rajbongshis and Misings—would naturally meet the three-generation residency requirement.

He also clarified that Bengali-origin religious and linguistic minorities who had settled in Assam before 1951 would be treated as original inhabitants. He said this was consistent with eligibility guidelines under the state's Mission Basundhara land policy.

The chief minister further said the proposed legislation contains specific safeguards for the tea garden community, ensuring that members are protected as indigenous people even if they face difficulties in establishing or documenting three generations of residence in Assam.

Sarma said the provisions had been extensively debated in the Assam Legislative Assembly and maintained that the legislation leaves little scope for confusion over who qualifies as an original inhabitant.