Odisha Minister Pujari mulls special fund for tribals to monetise land
BHUBANESWAR: Revenue and Disaster Management minister Suresh Pujari has floated the idea of setting up a revolving fund to address the financial needs of tribals at the time of exigencies in exchange of their land assets.
Pujari mooted the idea in the assembly on Thursday and called for a wider debate on the issue as the existing laws prohibit tribals to mortgage or sell part of their landholding to non-tribals at the time of need.
Sharing his thought with members of the assembly, Purjari suggested that the proposed revolving fund would give an opportunity to tribals to monetise land assets to meet urgent needs of social obligations like marriage or to fund for education of children or start a new business.
“The land can be either mortgaged or sold to the state government and the same can reverted to the original owner on repayment of the amount taken from the revolving fund in lieu of the asset. In case the beneficiary of the revolving fund expresses inability to repay, the government may have the option to auction the land as per the benchmark valuation and excess proceedings from the auction, if any, could be handed over to the owner of the land,” Pujari said.
The minister said there are many first timers in the 17th assembly but there is no dearth of members with long experience in parliamentary business while some of them are well versed with law.
“I want to utilise the experience and legal expertise of the members of this House to guide the government how to deal with the problems faced by tribals in matters relating mortgage or sale of their land and other issues including regularisation of land rights to forest dwellers,” Pujari submitted.
Pujari suggestions have come in the backdrop of an Opposition backlash that had forced the previous BJD government to rescind to its decision to amend the Orissa Scheduled Areas Transfer of Immovable Property (By Scheduled Tribes) Regulation, 1956 in November 2023 allowing tribals in scheduled areas to sell and mortgage their land to non-tribals.
This regulation prohibits the transfer of tribal land to non-tribals and criminalises any forced alienation in scheduled areas. The Odisha Land Reforms Act, 1960 also prohibits transfer of land to non-tribals in non-scheduled areas.