Dibrugarh, February 9: Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Monday announced the launch of a landmark initiative aimed at securing land ownership rights for tea garden workers, marking what he described as a historic step toward redefining land rights and improving the social status of the state’s tea tribes community.
From Dibrugarh, the Chief Minister flagged off the distribution of application forms to Cha Shramiks (tea garden workers), enabling them to apply for ownership of tea garden line lands where they have been residing for generations.
Sarma said the initiative follows the passage of The Assam Fixation of Ceiling on Landholdings (Amendment) Bill, 2025 in the Assam Legislative Assembly, which has paved the way for granting land rights to tea garden workers across the state. According to the Chief Minister, around 3.5 lakh families living in 825 tea estates are expected to benefit from the move.
“These lands will now be exclusively earmarked for the tea garden community,” Sarma said, adding that to safeguard the interests of beneficiaries, the government has imposed restrictions on the sale and purchase of these lands outside the community for a period of 20 years.
The Chief Minister said the measure is aimed at ensuring long-term security for tea tribes and preventing alienation of land. He described the move as part of the government’s broader commitment to the welfare, dignity and empowerment of the tea garden community, which plays a crucial role in Assam’s economy.
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Officials said the application process has begun on the ground and will be rolled out across tea estates in phases, with district administrations overseeing verification and implementation.
The tea tribes community has long demanded land rights as a means of achieving social security and economic stability, and the state government said the new law and its implementation mark a significant step toward addressing those concerns.
