I ANNEX

April 10. \ 964 No . GA - 71/64

My dear C hief Ministe r,

II' occurs to me lhm we may gel troub le betwe en the Mizo s and the Chakrnas in the

-Mizo District. Thes e Chakmas would be quite suitable people to go into the Tirap Division

orNEFA where there is easily found vacant land in thc area about which you and 1have often

sp oken.

With kind regards .

Yours sincerel y

Sd/- Vishnu Sahay

Shri B . P. Chaliha Chief Minister. Assam , Shi1l011g.

Copy to : Shri P. N. Luthra. Advi ser (0 the (JO VC]'Jl o r of Ass:IJTl

Sd/- Vishnu Sahay

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ANNEX XIX

GOVERNMENT OF INDrA . NORTH EAST FRONTIER AGENCY

Nn. RR. 17/64 Dated Shillong. the 21st April. J965

BJck ground.

Pro hlem or refugees etc.

Undesirability of keeping vacant land

border areas,

To

All Political Officers/Additional Political Officers, NErA

Sub: Resettlement or People in NEFA .

Sir.

The area ofNEFA is comparatively thinly populated. For an area or about 33.000 sq . miles, the total population is about 3,37,000. The density of population varies from 4% per sq. mile in Lohii Frontier Division \0 2 J ,8% in the Tirap Frontier Division .

2. There has been 1)(\ land sculcmcnt system in NEI:/\ so far, as in the other settled areas and nu cadastral survey has yet been cnnicd out . The ownership of land in NEFf\ varies from uihc 10 trine through generally speaking land is either owned by individuals or by the clan , Reports show that there are certain areas with vacuni land Oil which there is no direct individuals or claim ownership.

3. The country as <l whole is facing problems ofland for settlement ofpeople on account of the large influx of refugees from Pakistan and Burma, Repatriation of more Indi?J1S from foreign countries such as Ceylon and Africa is likely for whom land has to be found in our country. There had also been influx of Tibetan refugees in the recent past. Further. there is the problem of settlement of some ex-servicemen and ex-Assam Rines person­nel, who have no land oftheir own where they can settle after they have played ... their role ill the defence of the country and ret i red. A II the Slate Governments arc trying 10 do their best to accommodarc the refugees etc . It is desirable for NEFA people also to render help just as other Stales are assisting.

4. The settlement of people in NEfA will also help in developing the pockets that are lying unused and unoccupied by the local population. Besides, the presence of stretches of vacant land along the border is strategi­cally not desirable and the last emergency had high lighte« this problem. Reseulemcnt ofpeople in the vacant border areas will help to strengthen our frontiers and their defence.

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III

 

 

 

I ' -'. Safe-Guard 5. The important thing to note, however, is that the people's suspi­against undue publicity.

cion should not be roused unnecessarily in bringing people from outside NEFA for settlement. It is also not necessary to publicise widely any scheme of settling people in NEFA. Much will depend upon the approach of the Political Officers. for example. for resettling Tibetan refugees. land was made available by the people when it was explained to them that the country as a whole was in difficult« and that NEFA people should help in the matter. The major factors necessitai ing the resettlement of people in NEFA are;

(a) To strengthen border defence by populating vacant land.

(b) To find land for the refugees and Indians returing from foreign countries who have posed a problem on a national scale.

(c) Our duty towards ex-sevicernen and ex-Assam Rifles who are engaged in the defence ofOUT country in the present emergency.

6. While progressing any settlement schemes the following important points may kindly be borne in mind :­

(a) Land should be voluntarily given by the people to whom an emotional approach has to be made. Such approach should be made by the Political Officer himself and he should consult the leaders in the areas to ensure that our resettlement proposal doc!' nOI lead to misplaced agitation or misunder standings.

(b) Land should as per as possible not belong 10 anyone and this point should be fully cleared herein its utilisation for settlement. There are areas where full rights are not likely to be nllccted by settlement of people in NEFA.

(e) Land may be given to the settlers on lease for which term has tobe prescribed along with the proformas to be singed.by the settlers.

(d) Where land is given by the people voluntarily there ought to be written agreement about it on either side .

(e) Wherever any compensation is needed, it should be duly paid to the villagers and necessary documents prepared,

(f) 0011' that much of land which may be adequate to consolidate an economic holding should be allotted to each family coming from outside NErA. As a rule, the ceiling for allotment of land to each ramiIy of settler should be put up to this Administration for approval.

(g) The ground survey must precede any attempts at settlement.

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7. Bearing in view the above points, the Political Orrice s are requested to send concrete proposals showing the land available in their area s for settle­ment. The proposal should specify the location of land, the number of families which can be settled having regard to the culti viabilirv of the area

and availability of water for irrigation.

8. Receipt of this letter may kindly be acknowledged .

Yours faithfully.

SdJ­(P. N. Luthra )

Adviser to the Governor of Assam .

Dated Shillong, the Memo No . RR. 17/64 21 st April. 1965.

Copy to:­

(I) Director of Agriculture and Cc rnmunir y Development, NEFA. Shillong.

(2) Deputy Secretary (Political). NEI:A. Shillong .

(3) Director of Forests, NEFA. Shillong.

Sd/­(p. N. Luthra )

Adviser to the Governor of Assam.

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