the state government intends to revise the Odisha Government Land Settlement Rules of 1983 to redefine the criteria for a landless individual
OdishaPlus Bureau
On Friday, Suresh Pujari, the Minister for Revenue and Disaster Management, announced that the state government intends to revise the Odisha Government Land Settlement Rules of 1983 to redefine the criteria for a landless individual, thereby allowing a greater number of beneficiaries to qualify for the Vasundhara scheme.
Pujari indicated that the state government currently allocates four decimals of homestead land to landless individuals under the Vasundhara scheme. However, numerous individuals possess inherited land that is less than four decimals, which prevents them from constructing a house and excludes them from being classified as landless.
To address this issue, Pujari stated that the government is proposing an amendment to the rules to recognize such individuals as landless, thus making them eligible for the benefits of the Vasundhara scheme. Nevertheless, he clarified that these individuals would not receive the full four decimals of homestead land under the program.
Individuals who have inherited one or two decimals of homestead land will have their inherited land deducted from the allocation under the scheme. For instance, a person with one decimal of inherited land would be entitled to receive three decimals of homestead land.
The minister further explained that individuals with less than four decimals of land have the option to surrender their land to the government if they wish to obtain a single parcel of four decimals of homestead land for housing purposes. Additionally, the government will prohibit beneficiaries of the Vasundhara scheme from selling their land, a practice previously allowed after a period of ten years.
“It has been observed that many beneficiaries sell their land after ten years and subsequently reapply for land under the scheme, thereby regaining their landless status. The state government aims to eliminate such practices. A beneficiary may surrender their land to the government and reapply for land under the scheme,” he stated.
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