Kalita Community Protests for Indigenous Recognition and Land Rights in Assam

Protest by Kalita Community in Goalpara

Goalpara, Nov 2: In a demonstration for recognition as an indigenous group and safeguarding their land rights, members of the Kalita community obstructed National Highway 17 at Agia in Assam's Goalpara district on Monday.

The protest, organized by the Kalita Jatiya Sanmilan, focused on the Assam Land and Revenue Amendment Bill, 2026, which the community claims could marginalize them from land rights and other protections.

The organization is advocating for the inclusion of the Kalita community in the list of indigenous ethnic groups under the proposed legislation.

Additionally, they are calling for the removal of the requirement for three generations of documentation, with a reference date of January 1, 2006, to prove original inhabitant status.

The demonstrators are also demanding land rights for their members in tribal belts, Sixth Schedule areas, and autonomous regions.

One protester expressed frustration, stating, “We have consistently raised our issues with the Assam government but have received no assistance. Our community has been excluded from the benefits of the Assam Land and Revenue Amendment Bill, 2026, which is why we are protesting today. If our issues are not addressed, we will escalate our protests.”

A female participant raised concerns about educational access and land rights, noting that the community suffers due to the absence of reservation policies.

“Our children find it difficult to gain admission to educational institutions because of the lack of reservation. The current government seems intent on stripping us of our land rights. Despite our deep roots in Assam, the Kalita community is now labeled as non-indigenous. We have no choice but to take to the streets to defend our rights,” she stated.

Another protester claimed that their repeated requests to the Chief Minister regarding education, land, and healthcare issues have gone unanswered.

“We are all affected. We also criticize the MLAs from the Kalita community. If they do not advocate for us in the Assembly, we will surround their homes,” he warned.

A woman protester mentioned that this demonstration was the third organized by the community, following previous protests at Baihata Chariali and Numaligarh. She claimed that community members have lost their rights to buy and sell land.

“Even Mahapurush Srimanta Sankardeva was part of the Kalita community,” she emphasized, referencing the community's historical significance in support of their demand for recognition.

This protest comes in the wake of the Assam Legislative Assembly's approval of the land amendment bill on July 29, the last day of the 2026 Budget Session.

The legislation was one of five bills passed that day and faced criticism regarding the definition of “original inhabitant” and its potential impact on land rights.

The protesters have warned that they will escalate their demonstrations if the government does not meet their demands.