Key Takeaways
- The Odisha Cabinet will ask the Tribal Advisory Council to reconsider the land‑transfer amendment.
- Opposition parties label the move anti‑tribal and fear it will make tribals landless.
- The amendment permits a ST community member to gift or mortgage land for agriculture, industry, public projects or education.
Bhubaneswar: Odisha Cabinet held under the Chairmanship of Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Friday decided to recommend to Tribal Advisory Council (TAC) to reconsider its earlier decision allowing scheduled tribe (ST) people to sell their land to non-tribals.
Parliamentary Affairs Minister Niranjan Pujari informed the state Assembly today that the cabinet approved the proposal to send the Amendment of the Odisha Scheduled Areas Transfer of Immoveable Property (By Scheduled Tribes) Regulation, 1956 to the Tribal Advisory Council for further review and make necessary changes.
The cabinet took the decision after opposition BJP and the Congress created a hue and cry over the issue and stalled the functioning of the house for two days demanding complete withdrawal of the move.
They alleged that the government is anti-tribal and the move was a conspiracy to grab tribal land and make them landless.
Odisha Cabinet on November 14 last had approved a proposal to amend the Orissa Scheduled areas Transfer of immovable property (by scheduled tribes) Regulation,1956 allowing tribals to transfer land to non-tribals in scheduled areas.
Revenue Minister Sudam Marndi on November 16 on his social media account X said the proposed Amendment to Regulation-2 of 1956 discussed in the Cabinet meeting held November 14, regarding transfer of Tribal lands has been put on hold.
The cabinet had decided that a member of the ST community can gift a land parcel to a non‑tribal for agriculture or industrial purpose, or exchange it for public purposes.
A loan can be obtained by mortgaging a plot of land in a public financial institution for agriculture, construction of a residential house, higher studies of children, self‑employment, business or the establishment of small‑scale industries.
Opposition Chief whip Mohan Majhi said the government is anti-tribal and the cabinet decision is a conspiracy against tribals to loot their land and make them landless and demanded to completely withdraw the decision.
The Cabinet also approved a proposal for the upgradation of Odisha State Workflow Automation System (OSWAS) and for the repair, renovation and reconstruction of Odisha University of Agriculture and Technology (OUAT) and sanctioned Rs 491.41 crore for five years, from 2023-24 to 2027-28 for the purpose.
