Slum dwellers get land rights in Odisha

Over 1 million people to benefit

Odisha CM Naveen Patnaik and Tata Trusts chairman Ratan Tata with others at a function in Ganjam district on Monday.

The Odisha government on Monday started distribution of pattas (land ownership certificates) to urban slum dwellers at a function in Ganjam district.

The project, ‘Odisha Liveable Habitat Mission’, will benefit over one million people residing in 2,500 urban slums across the State.

Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik inaugurated the logo of the project at the function where pattas were distributed to 2,000 households of Ganjam and Puri districts.

Apart from land rights, the beneficiaries will also get basic amenities.

Addressing the gathering, Mr. Patnaik said: “We had to choose from continuing the practices of evictions and treating slum dwellers as encroachers or recognising their immense contribution to the life of the city and providing them land rights. We chose the second option.”

Tata Trusts chairman Ratan Tata, renowned British architect Lord Norman Robert Foster, land rights activist Gautam Bhan and several Ministers were present at the function.