2-DAY WORKSHOP ON LAND GOVERNANCE IN NORTH EAST STATES
Dispur, Rongili Barta- A two days Regional Workshop on “Land Governance in North East States: Status and Impact of Policy Reforms and Regional initiatives on Customary and Indigenous Laws for the sates of Assam, Meghalaya, Mizoram & Tripura” was organized by the Department of Land Resources (DoLR), Ministry of Rural Development Govt. of India in association with B.N. Yugandhar Centre for Rural Studies, Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration, Mussoorie on 3rd May and 4th May 2023 at the Assam Administrative Staff College, Guwahati. This first of its kind workshop was attended by about 45 high level Officials from Land Revenue departments and 08 Autonomous District Councils of 07 states of North-East. The Secretary of DoLR Shri Ajay Tirkey, IAS and Shri Sonmoni Borah, IAS Joint Secretary and other Officials from DoLR along with Shri Gyanendra Dev Tripathi, IAS, Principal Secretary- Department of Revenue and Disaster Management, Govt. of Assam, Shantanu Gotmare, Director of Land Records, Govt of Assam, Joint Secretary, Department of Revenue and Disaster Management, Govt. of Assam, Ms Anandhi, Sr. Dy Director from LBSNAA and experts from the World Bank, Survey of India and others in the field of Land Governance including the Centre Director and faculty members of B.N. Yugandhar Centre for Rural Studies attended the workshop. The workshop began with ceremonial lighting of Lamp by the DoLR Secretary and other dignitaries and followed by Welcome address by the Principal Secretary Govt of Assam focusing on land governance from holistic perspective and importance of modernization of land records for land governance and land record management. He focused on citizen centric services by quoting the clarion call given by the Honourable Prime Minister of India to shift from rule to role based governance for the benefit of the common man. He reiterated that while the interests of various ethnic groups, clans, traditions and customary laws have to be protected , at the same time, the globalisation pressures, the infrastructural needs, markets and collatoral needs, benefits of government schemes, have to be reconciled in today’s context. The Key note address by the Honourable Secretary, DoLR commenced with insights on the initiatives of Central Government India towards modernization of Land records management and its benefits. He reiterated the commitment of Department of Land Resources to assist all States and ADCS towards modernization of their records within the constitutional framework. The key note address was followed up by state specific presentations on Land Governance and Modernisation of Land records management system as an mandate of digital India. The Officials from 08 Autonomous district councils (ADCs) made presentations regarding the customary laws and practices. The second day of the workshop commenced with brain storming sessions based on state specific groups formed including diverse stakeholders. An exposure visit of the participants to Sonapur village was conducted to provide an exposure on implementation of modernisation of land records at the field level and to motivate them with awareness on modern techniques used in the field of modernisation of land records.