KMSS president Akhil Gogoi in Dhubri on Saturday. Picture by UB Photos
Dhubri, Feb. 21: Krishak Mukti Sangram Samiti (KMSS) president Akhil Gogoi has demanded amendment of the Seventh Schedule of the Constitution to protect the rights to natural resources for the people of Assam.
Speaking at the first annual conference of the KMSS Dhubri district unit at Asom Sangha hall here today, Akhil said the Centre has curtailed all rights of the people on natural resources on the basis of the Seventh Schedule.
“As royalty on oil, Assam gets only Rs 560 against every Rs 20,000 worth of crude oil explored, while the Centre receives Rs 1,425 as tax. This oil resource is again in the hands of companies and not under the central government. So, companies on behalf of the Centre are exploiting the people of Assam and depriving their legitimate share of profit for decades,” he alleged.
He called upon the people to raise their voices and fight against the discrimination in various other aspects, including erosion and issuing of land patta.
While demanding amendment to the Assam Land and Revenue Act, 1886, Akhil alleged a large section of farmers are still deprived of the basic right on the land they have been living on for centuries and cultivating owing to this “anti-people” land act. The government has curtailed the right of people on land by categorising various land holdings, he added.
He said a farmer’s family needs at least 12 bighas to sustain them but in Assam, the average farming land figures were dismal.
Around 28 per cent farmers have no land while 32 per cent have only 3.5 bighas.
So, most of the farmers hardly have any land for cultivation, compelling them to become labourers, Akhil said.
He also spoke on erosion of land and said between 1954 and 2001 seven per cent land (4.5 lakh hectares) has eroded in Assam, displacing over three lakh people.
He called on the people to come forward to demand land pattas, protection of land from erosion and reclaim the land already eroded.
Asked whether he would float a new party, Akhil there has not been any discussion nor any decision on it yet.
via NorthEast Calling http://ift.tt/1D8sQ49
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