Assam has granted protected status to the Ahom, Chutia, Koch, and Gorkha communities in Lakhimpur

Digboi: The Assam government has notified the inclusion of the Ahom, Chutia, Koch and Gorkha communities in the list of protected classes of persons in Lakhimpur district under the Submontene Tribal Belt.

The notification was issued by the Revenue and Disaster Management Department on January 21, 2026, under Section 160(2) of the Assam Land and Revenue Regulation, 1886. It extends protection to members of these communities who had settled in Lakhimpur prior to 2011. Issued in the name of the Governor of Assam, the order is currently applicable only to Lakhimpur district.

Officials said the decision was in line with the government’s policy to safeguard land rights of indigenous and historically settled communities in tribal belt areas. The notification provides legal protection to eligible families by bringing them within the existing land regulation framework governing protected classes of persons.

Welcoming the notification, Prem Tamang, Chairman of the Gorkha Development Council, said the decision addressed long-standing concerns related to land security and recognition of communities residing in the district. Speaking to NORTHEAST NOW, Mr. Tamang described the move as a recognition of the contribution of these communities to the region.

Senior officials in the Revenue and Disaster Management Department said the notification had been communicated to the district administration for implementation and would be published in the Assam Gazette to give it statutory effect.

The notification comes amid continuing debates in Assam over land rights, migration and protection of indigenous communities, with the government reiterating its position on regulated land use in tribal belt and block areas.