Ramesh proposes big role for gram sabhas in tribal land acquisition

It will make land acquisition more difficult for private players

The Union government proposes to take yet another shot at the crucial land reforms agenda in a bid to help the rural poor affected by a host of land issues and inflation.

Having introduced the Land Acquisition and Rehabilitation and Resettlement Bill in Parliament, Minister of Rural Development Jairam Ramesh, who also holds the Department of Land Resources, aims to address other aspects relating to land and reform the sector.

He has posted an agenda for Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's perusal with a request to convene the National Council of Land Reforms under him to speed up the process of reforms that entails amendments to at least two legislations.

The Land Acquisition Bill is now under a parliamentary standing committee's evaluation and the panel's report is expected before the expiry of its extended deadline of March 12. The Bill is likely to be taken up for passage, if not during the budget session, then latest by the monsoon session.

In Mr. Ramesh's latest proposal, the States, which have a crucial role to play in matters of land, are required to have all issues related to tribal land to be decided at gram sabhas. This will make land acquisition in forest areas and tribal habitations more difficult for private players.

The gram sabhas should be consulted be it for sale or lease of tribal land, for restoration of alienated tribal land and for maintaining land records.

To end alienation of tribals that had led to spread of Naxalism among them and bring them into the mainstream, the other proposals include withdrawal of cases relating to encroachment and minor forest offences.

The tribals will also benefit from the Centre's proposed move to launch a scheme for homestead rights to provide land for each homeless rural poor.

Apart from arranging for reconciliation of forest and revenue land records, Mr. Ramesh intends to set up land tribunals or fast track courts for expeditious disposal of appeal cases.

The Centre intends to conduct surveys for a better understanding of the status of Bhoodan Land, common property resources in villages and settlement operations in tribal sub-plan areas.

To monitor evasion of ceiling laws through fraudulent land transaction, the government proposes amendment to the Benami Transactions (Prohibitions of the Right to Recover Property) Act, 1989 and to put a ban on exemptions on diversion of land in Scheduled areas and also on transfers of common property and agricultural land for SEZ purposes.