Assam to repeal Bhoodan and Gramdan laws to settle natives

Guwahati: The Assam cabinet on Tuesday decided to repeal over 300 obsolete state acts, including the Bhoodan and Gramdan acts of the 60’s brought under the Bhoodan movement initiated by Vinoba Bhave, in order to take over the donated land under encroachers and settle native occupants on it.
The cabinet brief said the Bhoodan act of 1965 and Gramdan Act of 1965 will be repealed to counter unabated encroachment on over an estimated 10,897 bigha Bhoodan and Gramdan land This would facilitate vesting of donated lands now from the control of Assam State Bhoodan Gramdan Board to the state government, which will be aggregated into existing land banks and will be used for settlement of indigenous occupants on these lands.
‘Chintan Shivir’
In a first, the cabinet also decided to hold ‘Chintan Shivir’ from September 24 to 26 under chairmanship of the chief minister. The three-day brainstorming session will be participated by cabinet ministers, senior-most secretaries of around 57 departments and will deliberate on various pending issues and to chalk out a future plan for tackling the issues.
Special CL
Like last year, the cabinet decided to give special casual leave to state government employees from February 9 to 11 next year to give them time to spend with their living parents or parents-in-law.
CWG victory
The cabinet also decided to promote Birmingham Commonwealth Games land ball gold medalist Nayanmoni Saikia to the rank of deputy SP in Assam Police and a cash reward of Rs 50 lakh in recognisation of her achievement.