Shillong, February 17: The Opposition Voice of the People Party (VPP) on Tuesday called for a statewide audit of community and customary lands in Meghalaya, citing growing concerns over the increasing alienation of tribal land.
 |
| VPP MLA Ardent Miller Basaiawmoit moves special motion in Meghalaya Assembly seeking audit of tribal and community lands. (Image: Meghalaya Legislative Assembly Channel) |
Moving a special motion during the Budget Session, Nongkrem MLA Ardent Miller Basaiawmoit urged the government to digitise and scientifically map Ri Raid, Hima, Elaka and other communal lands, and establish a transparent land registry mechanism in coordination with the Autonomous District Councils (ADCs).
Describing land as central to tribal identity, culture and sovereignty, Basaiawmoit warned that the erosion of community land threatens the spirit of the Sixth Schedule protections under Article 244(2) of the Constitution. He said the constitutional framework empowers ADCs to regulate land allotment and occupation, but alleged weak enforcement and legal loopholes have enabled fragmentation, encroachment and concentration of land in the hands of a few.
ALSO READ: New Shillong Township to Power Meghalaya’s $10 Billion Economy: CM
He raised concerns over alleged conflicts between customary land tenure systems and the application of the Assam Land and Revenue Regulation (ALRR), 1886 in parts of Garo Hills, claiming that issuance of pattas and revenue records has, in some instances, undermined traditional clan-based landholding structures.
The VPP legislator also pointed to issues in Khasi and Jaintia Hills, including alleged manipulation of customary systems, privatization of communal lands, and rising landlessness among tribal households. Citing socio-economic data, he said landlessness in rural Meghalaya remains a serious concern.
Calling the situation “internal colonization,” Basaiawmoit urged the government to:
• Conduct a statewide audit of all community and customary lands
• Digitise and GIS-map communal landholdings
• Ensure prior informed consent before land acquisition or change of land use
• Strengthen legal safeguards against misuse of customary authority
• Present an annual report to the Assembly on the status of tribal land protection
He stressed that development and investment must not come at the cost of dispossession and urged the House to take strong steps to safeguard Meghalaya’s traditional land systems.
