GUWAHATI:
As a part of the Assam government’s commitment to the welfare of the tribal people, the state government will release Tribal Land Policy, Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said on August 1.
Launching ‘Mission Bhumiputra’, a simplified and digital way to issue digitalised caste certificates to students at a programme held at Srimanta Sankardev Kalakshetra on August 1, Sarma said that the state government has emphasised on issuing EWS certificates to the people as steps will be taken to issue such certificate to the students from class VIII onwards.
An awareness rally will be organised from September 1 to 15. With regards to OBC certificates, the state government will take necessary steps, he said.
The Mission Bhumiputra will be implemented by the departments of tribal affairs (plain) and social justice empowerment) to carry forward the government’s mission of easy public service to the public.
“Under the mission, the government will create two pillars. Henceforth, the manual system of issuing caste certificates will be ceased. From August 8 onwards, the deputy commissioners will give the format of applications for caste certificates to the headmasters of educational institutions.
The headmasters will fill up the application formats for their onward submission to the deputy commissioners who then forward the applications to the boards of their respective caste or tribe. The DC then will convene a meeting with the boards to decide on the protocol for issuing caste certificates to the students,” Sarma said.
“If any doubt in the process crops up, the application may be sent for further verification. The certificates will be available in the digital locker under the IT Act and digitally signed by the respective deputy commissioners,” the chief minister said.
The chief minister also said that earlier people before joining any government job, had to bear encumbrances to secure such documents. However, with the lunch of Mission Bhumiputra, such problems will be solved without any glitches. From next year, students from Class VIII can apply for caste certificates through this portal which will also be lined with CM’s dashboard to enable the chief minister’s office to monitor the entire process.
The chief minister also asked departments of tribal affairs (plain) and social justice empowerment to generate awareness on this new initiative.
“With the introduction of digitalization, different services have been rendered to the people transparently and expeditiously. This system has put an end to the menace of ‘middleman.” the chief minister added.
Assam Legislative Assembly speaker Biswajit Daimary also spoke on the occasion. Assam Legislative Assembly deputy speaker Numal Momin, tribal welfare minister Ranoj Pegu, housing and urban affairs minister Ashok Singhal, social justice and empowerment minister Pijush Hazarika, handloom and textile minister UG Brahma, minister for indigenous and tribal faith Nandita Gorlosa, PHE minister Jayanta Malla Baruah, North Cachar Hills Autonomous Council (NCHAC) CEM Debolal Gorlosa, chief secretary Jishnu Baruah and host of other dignitaries were present on the occasion.