The Assam government has announced a major move aimed at protecting the land rights of indigenous residents, locally referred to as Khilonjia. Under the new framework, restrictions on land transactions will initially be introduced in Goalpara, Dhubri and Barpeta districts, with the government saying the measure is intended to prevent the transfer of indigenous land to non-indigenous buyers. Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said the initiative will focus particularly on selected areas of Lower Assam, where the government believes stronger safeguards are required to protect local land ownership. The detailed eligibility criteria and implementation of the restrictions will depend on the provisions notified by the state government.
Separately, the Chief Minister has appealed to long-term residents of the Brahmaputra Valley, including people whose families migrated to Assam from other parts of India, to voluntarily record Assamese as their mother tongue during the Census 2027 process. He described Assamese as a common link language connecting several communities in the state, while clarifying that the appeal was voluntary and was not directed at indigenous communities or residents of the Barak Valley. The government has linked both initiatives to its broader focus on preserving Assam’s linguistic, cultural and land-related identity, particularly in parts of Lower Assam such as Dhubri, Barpeta and Goalpara.
