It seems that Odisha government’s flagship scheme, Jaga Mission is hit a road block as the slum dwellers are not coming forward to take Land Right Certificates (LRCs) and are keen to return the surplus land allotted to them. The beneficiaries are now queuing up before the Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) for the cancellation of the premium and urging to return the surplus land.
As per Jaga Mission rules; eligible slum dwellers will be provided Land Right Certificates (LRCs) free of cost if they have been staying on a land area of 323 sqft or less. If anybody is found to have been occupying more than 323 sqft then they will have to pay a premium amount to receive the LRC.
At the grievance cell of the Jaga Mission, most of the beneficiaries have expressed their incapability to pay up the premium. Recently, a lot of slum dwellers in Bhubaneswar had received notices from the BMC to pay different premium amounts as the drone survey found they have been residing on more than 323 sq ft of land.
The case of Pravasini Parida of Nayapalli is no different. She ekes out a living by working as domestic help at people’s houses. Moreover, she has been asked to pay Rs 1.26 lakh for the land certificate under Jaga Mission. Hence she reached out to the grievance cell for waiving off the premium amount.
“I do not have resources to pay the money. I wash utensils at other people’s houses. My husband is also incapable and stays at other place,” said Parida.
Subhalaxmi Mishra of Durga Mandap slum in Bhubaneswar has also received a demand notice of over Rs 1.11 lakh. She too has requested the authorities to take away the surplus land beyond the free limit of 323 sqft.
“I do not want extra land. I want the government to provide the same land which has been provided free of cost to others. There are mistakes in survey and BMC should prove that I am in possession of surplus area,” said Mishra.
As per reports, out of the total 51,000 LRCs, 22,000 fall under the premium category while another 15,000 are not coming to take the certificates. Now under such circumstances, the BMC on Monday changed its stand. The Civic Body today claimed that not three days, but the beneficiaries can pay up the premium in six months.
BMC Commissioner, Vijay Amruta Kulange said that the beneficiaries can get the Land Right Certificates (LRCs) after paying the premium in six installments within six months period.
“The benchmark value in some areas is high and the premium can be little high for some beneficiaries. Hence, the state government has allowed to pay the premium amount in six installments,” said Kulange.
Meanwhile, most of the slum dwellers are in a state of confusion, as in the demand notice, it is clearly mentioned that Land Right Certificates will be cancelled if premium amount is not deposited within three days. BMC claimed that special teams will conduct physical verification for the beneficiaries who want to return the surplus land or if there is some mistake in the survey regarding total area under their occupation.