Guwahati: In a major decision, the Assam Cabinet has decided to immediately withdraw 28,000 pending cases from the Foreigners’ Tribunals of the Koch Rajbongshi community,
The government acknowledged that the Koch Rajbongshis are indigenous people of Assam and should not have been subjected to legal battles over their citizenship status. This decision is expected to bring relief to thousands who have been entangled in lengthy court cases.
Earlier, the state government granted the Koch-Rajbongshi community protected status in certain tribal belts in Assam.
In a significant move towards linguistic inclusivity, the Assam Cabinet has decided to implement bilingual government communication across the state from April 15, 2025.
Starting April 15, all government directives, laws, and notifications will be published in both English and Assamese. Recognizing the linguistic diversity of Assam, the Cabinet has also decided that official communication in the Barak Valley will be available in Bengali, while in the Bodoland Territorial Region (BTR), documents will be published in Bodo alongside Assamese and English.
To facilitate a smooth transition, an application named “Basini” will be introduced, assisting officials in adapting to the new system. The policy has been formulated in consultation with the All Assam Students’ Union (AASU), ensuring that linguistic representation aligns with regional requirements.
The Assam government has also decided to engage youth volunteers to monitor embankments in a major step towards flood control. The initiative aims to prevent breaches and ensure timely intervention during the flood season.
Under this program, 10-15 young volunteers will be appointed in different locations, each responsible for monitoring an 8-10 km stretch of embankments.
The volunteers will be equipped with essential flood-fighting gear, including raincoats, torches, gumboots, and geobags. They will immediately alert authorities about any signs of weakness or potential breaches, enabling prompt action. At the end of their service period in October, these volunteers will receive a certificate of appreciation from the Chief Minister.
