26/08/2025
The Soil Conservation Department, operating under the administrative control of the North Cachar Hills Autonomous Council in Haflong, stands as an essential part of the State Government’s development efforts, particularly in conserving soil. Its mission is to address agrarian challenges faced by the hill communities, primarily poor tribal populations. The department began its work in North Cachar Hills (now Dima Hasao) in 1968, with the establishment of the Haflong Soil Conservation Division.
Institutional Management:-
To achieve its goals, the department has structured its operations into two main divisions: Maibang and Haflong Soil Conservation Divisions. An Additional Director, stationed at Lodi: Haflong, serves as the district head. The Maibang Division was formed in 1985. Previously, a Joint Directorate managed both Dima Hasao and Karbi Anglong from 1984, but in 1994 this management was separated, creating an Additional Directorate specifically for Dima Hasao.
The department is managed by its leadership team, which oversees publicity, planning, and administration. Each division—Haflong and Maibang—has dedicated personnel responsible for administrative duties. The organizational framework includes several local offices and administrative units: Haflong covers more of these units than Maibang. Altogether, the department employs 194 individuals across executive, ministerial, and field roles, all dedicated to advancing the objectives set forth by the Government of Assam.
Vision:-
The Soil Conservation Department (Hills) envisions the people of Dima Hasao as central stakeholders in all its development activities. The department strives to avoid making Jhum cultivators dependent on its services, instead focusing on transparency, equality, and fair treatment for all. Its aim is to enable those impacted by soil erosion to adopt scientifically proven conservation practices.
Mission:-
As a branch of Assam’s development departments, the Soil Conservation Department (Hills) addresses agricultural and related issues in the hill region. The traditional shifting cultivation practiced here often harms the local ecology and environment. As an Entrusted Subject, the department operates under the North Cachar Hills Autonomous Council, supporting the Council’s constitutional duties. All departmental staff are tasked with advancing the interests of the district’s people.
Services:-
The department’s services include engaging personnel for operational support as per government guidelines and carrying out all departmental schemes. It serves as a development vanguard, especially for families practicing shifting cultivation, aiming to transition them to modern, scientific agricultural methods to improve their livelihoods.
Key initiatives include:
• Cash crop initiatives: rubber, tea, cardamom, broom
• Protective afforestation and nature conservation for protection of soil
• Land reclamation and bench terracing for wet cultivation
• Support for fuel, fodder, and timber needs through conservation practices.
Interfacing and Activities
The department carries out a range of transformative development programs and initiatives designed to uplift hill communities. These efforts prioritize sustainable practices such as water harvesting to address scarcity and combat soil erosion from shifting cultivation, while also supporting improvements in groundwater recharge and minor irrigation for fields downstream.
Relationship with the North Cachar Hills Autonomous Council (NCHAC)
The department plays a pivotal role in uplifting the economic well-being of underserved communities in Dima Hasao, operating in collaboration with the NCHAC. Its efforts focus on
• Strategic planning to guide development priorities
• Resource allocation for effective program implementation
• Oversight to ensure delivery of initiatives aligns with government goals
Grievance Redressal Mechanism
To streamline administrative processes and ensure timely communication with the public, senior officers are designated to facilitate the sharing of official information in alignment with government procedures, fostering stronger trust and transparency within the community.
