The State Cabinet on Tuesday decided to grant 100% subsidy to landless farm labourers from the Scheduled Castes to purchase land. The subsidy sanctioned by the government for per acre of land has also been doubled.
The scheme, Karmavir Dadasaheb Gaikwad Sabalikaran and Swabhiman Yojana, which was unveiled in 2004 is meant to ensure landless farm labourers of the Scheduled Castes community purchase land. Under the scheme, a farm labourer from the community could buy a maximum of two acres of irrigated land with 50% subsidy at the rate of ₹3 lakh per acre and four acre of non-irrigated land with 50% subsidy at the rate of ₹2 lakh per acre.
On Tuesday, the subsidy was increased to 100% along with the land rates. Now, a landless farm labourer from the community can buy four acres of non-irrigated land with 100% subsidy at the rate of ₹5 lakh per acre and two acres of irrigated land with 100% subsidy at the rate of ₹8 lakh per acre.
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The move comes in the wake of reports of growing discontent within the community about the State government over attacks on its members in various parts of the country. Social Justice Minister Rajkumar Badole said, “The subsidy will ensure the scheme becomes successful in the State. More landless labourers from the community can avail of the benefits now.” Mr. Badole said government reports, including the State Economic Survey, have shown that most landless labourers belong to the SC community. He said, “The scheme is meant to ensure the labourers get permanent jobs.”