Guwahati, March 13, 2026: Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, in the presence of Hon’ble Chief Minister of Assam Dr. Himanta Biswa Sarma, distributed pattas under Mission Basundhara for the settlement of Tea Labour Line land. This initiative marks a significant step toward providing legal land rights, residential security, and formal recognition to tea garden families in Assam. It reflects a broader commitment to transparent and people-centred land governance in the state.

For decades, tea garden communities in Assam have been central to the identity and economy of the state. Their labour has sustained one of India’s most iconic industries and shaped Assam’s global recognition. Yet, despite generations of contribution, many families lived without formal ownership of the land on which their homes stood. Under a historic initiative, land pattas were distributed to thousands of tea garden families, marking not just an administrative milestone but a deeply human transformation. Recognising this long-standing structural issue, the Government of Assam undertook a major legislative reform in 2025 by amending the Assam Fixation of Ceiling on Land Holdings Act, 1956.

The success of the Tea Labour Line settlement initiative under Assam’s flagship programme Mission Basundhara was significantly supported by Mission Basundhara Portal which is designed and developed by Land Record Division of NIC, Assam and which provided a transparent and technology-enabled platform for land governance. Through digital verification, GIS mapping, RTK Rover-based surveys, and systematic processing of records, the portal helped bring accuracy, accountability, and efficiency to the settlement process.

1- Mission Basundhara 3.0 approved cases: 82970
2- Total Tea Gardens in Assam: ~707
3- Estimated households residing in labour lines: ~3.54 lakh families
4- Tea gardens covered in First Phase: 106 tea gardens
5- Districts covered: 20 districts

The initiative adopted a technology-driven, transparent, and scalable approach:

1- RTK Rover Surveys → High-precision land measurement
2- GIS Mapping → Accurate spatial demarcation
3- Digital Verification Systems → Efficient and transparent processing

The ceremony was attended by Hon’ble Shri Lakshman Prasad Acharya, Governor of Assam, Hon’ble Shri Sarbananda Sonowal, Union Minister, Hon’ble Shri Pabitra Margherita, Union MoS, External Affairs, Hon’ble Shri Keshab Mahanta, Minister, Revenue, GoA, Hon’ble Shri Atul Bora, Minister, Agriculture, GoA, Hon’ble Shri Bimal Bora, Minister, Industries, GoA, Hon’ble Shri Rupesh Gowala, Minister, Tea Tribes Welfare and a host of other dignitaries.