SAMBALPUR: Revenue and Disaster Management minister Suresh Pujari on Saturday said people with less than four decimal land will also be considered landless after the amendment of Odisha Land Settlement Act and provided land under the Vasundhara scheme.
The minister said the amendment has been proposed in section 2 of Odisha Land Settlement Act. Those with less than four decimal land will be considered landless and will be given land after they surrender their plots to the government.
“Those who received land under Vasundhara scheme cannot sell them but the land could be inherited by their legal heirs. Also, relief laws will be renamed as Disaster Rights Laws as the word ‘relief’ sounds denigrating,” Pujari said.
Briefing mediapersons, the minister said he reviewed paddy procurement issues including problems faced by farmers, disbursal of input subsidy of `800 and development of infrastructure at the market yards.
The paddy purchase process, he said has started picking up pace in the district. “Plans are afoot to develop permanent facilities for farmers at the procurement centres. While the RMC has enough money, the state government has also earmarked adequate funds for the purpose. Work orders have also been issued for modernisation of mandis through development of permanent godowns, seating arrangements, toilet and drinking water facilities,” he said.
He thanked farmers for bringing good quality paddy. “Earlier, the paddy sold by farmers was mostly unclean and had a lot of residues. However, as the quality of the stocks has improved, deduction has also reduced,” Pujari added.
The Revenue minister further informed that coverage under Vasundhara scheme was also satisfactory. Smart surveillance system has been implemented with at least six CCTV cameras installed in across 213 DSR offices and 30 district registrar offices of the state, he said.
“Our primary objective is to make the Revenue department corruption-free and we have adopted all the latest technology possible to achieve it. The smart surveillance system is a first in the country and will eventually be implemented in other departmental offices too. This apart, laptops will be given to RIs and Amins to help ease their work. We had also proposed a few changes in the revenue laws and the proclamation period for which a 30-day objection window in currently open,” Pujari said.