Training on Land Rights and Land Document Management (2013)

ECDO has long been working to establish the indigenous people’s land rights and proper land documentation. In this regard, ECDO took several measures to educate and aware indigenous community on land documents management. ECDO organized three-days long training on 2-4 September 2013 on Land Rights and Land document Management for indigenous peoples of Sylhet region. The training covered a range of relevant issues, including government’s laws regarding land reforms; land registration, personal and communal land demarcation, and United Nations recognized articles about the rights of indigenous peoples and so on. Mr. Enamul Habib, Additional Deputy Commissioner (General) of Sylhet was present as a chief guest in closing session of the training where special guests were Oxfam representative, Ms. Pobitra Manda and Australian Youth Ambassador for Development, Ms. Sonja Steffen. In this training program twenty-five participants attended, both male and female, including young leader of the community, members of community based organization (consisted with students and school and college teachers) as well as members of Traditional Social Structure (TSS) of Khasi, Patro, Manipuri, Oraon and Mahali indigenous communities. Initial feedback from direct participants was both positive and encouraging. After receiving training, the indigenous people became more educated and conscious about the land rights and actively participated in settling their disputed land. At present, most of the community people are much more aware of paying land revenue and better know in which office they can get land services and how to update land documents. In addition to this, many of them shared their learning with community people and make them aware of the land services, land rights and land documentations