The Assam Cabinet has recently made an announcement that will change the title of Gaon Buras, local district administration officials at the village level, to ‘Gaon Pradhans’. This alteration in designation is accredited to the fact that more young men and women are now taking on the role of Gaon Buras. The term ‘Bura’, which translates to ‘old’ in Assamese, is thus becoming obsolete as a fitting description for these authority figures.
Understanding Gaon Buras
Gaon Buras act as the village chiefs and serve as the district administration’s primary contact point within their respective communities. They essentially function as the sight, hearing, and sensory perception of the district administration at the grassroots level. Assam currently hosts nearly 6,000 Gaon Buras. Women seldom assume the role of Gaon Bura, and when they do, it is typically due to the demise of their husband, who previously held the position.
Historical Overview of Gaon Buras
This administrative setup stems from colonial times when the British regime would appoint the most elderly individual of a village as the head. This person was responsible for supervising land and revenue-related matters in their area. After India gained independence, the government maintained this institution, officially incorporating the Gaon Bura into the Assam Revenue and Disaster Management department. Besides expanding the Gaon Bura’s responsibilities, the government also introduced a small honorarium for the post. This arrangement is not exclusive to Assam. In Arunachal Pradesh, Gaon Buras (and Buris) are significantly important village-level functionaries.
Roles and Responsibilities of Gaon Pradhans
The duties of a Gaon Pradhan are diverse, ranging from maintaining a population register of their village to preserving land records. They aid police enforcement in investigating crimes and, more recently, have been entrusted with the responsibility of keeping records of Covid-19 cases in their village. The Gaon Pradhan plays an essential role in organizing vaccination camps and functions as booth-level officers during elections.
A major role they play is in issuing a ‘Gaon Bura certificate’, which confirms permanent residency in a specific village. This certificate became crucial during the National Register of Citizens (NRC) process, helping women establish their relationship with their husbands or parents.
