The Assam government has formally launched the process of granting land ownership rights to tea garden workers and their families, ending decades of land insecurity in plantation areas.

What is the new initiative?

• At a public meeting in Dinjoye Tea Estate, the CM launched the distribution of application forms for land pattas.
• Eligible tea garden workers living in labour housing lines can now apply for legal ownership of both land and houses they have occupied for generations.

Legal and policy basis

• The initiative follows an amendment to the Assam Land Ceiling Act, passed in the last session of the Assam Legislative Assembly.
• The amendment enables the transfer of ownership from tea estate managements to resident workers.
• Earlier, despite living there for over 200 years, workers had no legal ownership, as land and houses belonged to tea estate owners.

Key features of the process

• Application-based system:
  • Workers will declare the name of the patta holder, area occupied, and related details.
• Survey-driven implementation:
  • Surveys completed in 103 tea estates.
  • Surveys in another 250 tea estates have begun.
  • Around 800 tea gardens will be covered in total.
• Timeline:
  • The exercise is expected to take 6–7 months.
• Beneficiaries:
  • Assam has nearly 10 lakh tea garden workers, or about 5 lakh families, eligible for pattas.
• Once pattas are issued, workers can upgrade or modify their homes without permission from tea estate management.

Social justice dimension

• The move is described by the government as a correction of a “historical injustice” faced by plantation labourers.
• It strengthens:
  • Right to housing
  • Tenurial security
  • Dignity of labour
• It aligns with constitutional goals of social and economic justice for historically marginalised communities.

Linked employment announcement

• The Chief Minister announced that the State Cabinet will soon consider extending the existing 3 per cent reservation for tea tribe candidates:
  • Currently applicable to Grade III and IV posts.
  • Proposed to be extended to Gazetted posts, including senior administrative and police services.

One-line wrap

By granting land pattas to tea garden workers, Assam has taken a landmark step toward land security, dignity, and long-term empowerment of plantation communities.

Exam Hook – 

Consider the following statements:

1. Tea garden workers in Assam earlier lived on plantation land without legal ownership of houses or land.
2. The recent Assam initiative to grant land pattas is based on an amendment to the State Land Ceiling law.
3. The proposal to extend reservation for tea tribe candidates to Gazetted posts has already been approved by the State Cabinet.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 1 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3

Correct answer: (a)

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