Government to come out with new policy for giving land to landless

NEW DELHI: In yet another pro-poor measure ahead of Lok Sabha polls, government is coming out with a new a policy for providing land to the landless.

The draft policy was prepared by a task force headed by Rural Development Minister Jairam Ramesh and co-chaired by Tribal Affairs Minister Kishore Chandra Deo.

The policy, prepared after the Food Security ordinance, outlines a very clear strategy of creating a large pool of land so that every family's right to land is fully honoured.

It proceeds to suggest a "just and equitable" method of allotting land on a priority basis to the marginalized, especially marginalized women. Provisions in the policy are also made in such a way that common property resources supplement the needs of the poor and deprived.

Ramesh said the draft policy will be sent to states tomorrow for their consideration. He said state Revenue Ministers' conference would be convened soon by the Centre to discuss the policy which will be sent to the Cabinet for approval once the Centre gets nod from the states.

Implementation of land reform in the country was one of the decisions arrived in an agreement signed last year between the government and Jan Satyagrah activists who fought for a National Land Reforms Policy.

Leader of the movement P V Rajagopal, Trinamool Congress MP D Bandhopadhyay, Planning Commission member Mihir Shah, B N Yugandar, Aruna Roy, Praveen Jha, Bina Agrawal and Videh Upadhya were the members of the task force.

According to the policy, the central government would set up a mechanism under the Department of Land Resources to monitor the implementation of the policy. This Department will present a report before a bi-annual meeting of state Revenue Ministers.

The policy proposes distribution of pattas under the Forest Rights Act in the name of the woman.

It not only stresses on the need to improve the delivery system with regard to litigations but also emphasizes the need for supporting the demand side by putting in place support systems for the poor which will help them in effectively liaisoning with the land administration department.