Scheme to confirm proprietary rights to small and marginal farmers soon
Vijyender Sharma
SHIMLA— The State Government is contemplating to bring out a scheme for conferment the proprietary rights to the small and marginal farmers of the State on government land, in order to provide them one time relief. This was disclosed in a meeting of High Powered Committee constituted by the State Government to assess and review the encroachment cases in the State held here today under the chairmanship of Health, Revenue and Law Minister Shri Kaul Singh Thakur.
Shri Thakur said that the State Government was committed towards welfare of the small and marginal farmers. He said that the State Government has drafted a scheme to protect the livelihood rights of the small and marginal farmers. However, the government was also committed to take strict action against the big encroachers as per the law, he added.
The Revenue Minister said a scheme to confer proprietary rights to a maximum of five bighas of land in rural areas had been prepared in such a manner that own land of the person and the land conferred did not exceed a total of 10 bighas, provided that the remaining land in possession was vacated. He said that the proprietary rights were proposed to be conferred at nominal rates. For conferment of Proprietary Rights, the person would have to apply in writing to the concerned SDO (Civil) or Assistant Settlement Officers where settlement operations were in process.
Shri Kaul Singh said that land being used for common village purposes such as roads, forest, fair grounds and other common purposes would not be conferred. He said that in those cases where the possessor stands already evicted within two years of the cut-off date would also be considered for conferment subject to the condition that the cases had been recorded before August, 2015.
He said that the State government would also consider the exchange of private land in lieu of encroached government land by the farmers. He said that the Scheme would be placed before the Cabinet for approval.
The Revenue Minister said that in cases where clearance under the Forest Conservation Act, 1980 and the Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006 was mandatory would be taken with the Government of India for exemption on humanitarian grounds and for determination of the Rights of possessors/dwellers.
Additional Chief Secretary, Revenue, Shri Tarun Shridhar detailed various salient features of the scheme and also conducted the proceedings of the meeting.
Deputy Speaker, Vidhan Sabha, Shri Jagat Singh Negi, Chief Parliamentary Secretaries Shri Nand Lal and Shri Rohit Thakur, MLA Shri Mohan Lal Brakta, former Minister Shri Satya Prakash Thakur, Principal Secretary, Forests Shri Tarun Kapoor, Principal Secretary, Law Dr. Baldev Singh Thakur, Principal Chief Conservator of Forests Shri S.S. Negi and other senior officers were also present among others.
**VijyenderSharma*, Press Correspondent Bohan Dehra Road JAWALAMUKHI-176031, Kangra HP(INDIA)*
Contact Number is 09736276343Mobile
datelinedharmshala 