Under pressure, Odisha govt sends decision on tribal land transfer for review

Amid severe criticism from the Opposition, the Odisha government on Friday decided to review its earlier Cabinet decision allowing Scheduled Tribe (ST) people to transfer their land to non-tribals.

The proposal to review the decision was taken in the Cabinet meeting held under the chairmanship of Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik today.

The Cabinet approved several key proposals including the decision to send the amendment of the Odisha Scheduled Areas Transfer of Immoveable Property (By Scheduled Tribes) Regulation, 1956 to the Tribal Advisory Council for further review and necessary changes. 
Odisha Parliamentary Affairs Minister Niranjan Pujari informed the House about the decision taken in the Cabinet meeting today. 

Notably, on November 14, the Odisha Cabinet had decided to amend a law allowing the scheduled tribe people (ST) to transfer their land to non-tribals in scheduled areas with a written permission from the sub-collector. And, the Odisha Scheduled Areas Transfer of Immovable Property (by STs) Regulation, 1956 had got a cabinet nod for this purpose.

The cabinet meeting decided that ST person can gift, exchange for public purposes or obtain a loan by mortgaging a plot of land in a public financial institution for agriculture, construction of residential house, higher studies of children, self-employment, business or establishment of small-scale industries or transfer it in favour of a person not belonging to ST community for these purposes.

But the government had since been on the crosshair of the Opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the Congress and several social organisations. 

Later, Revenue Minister Sudam Marndi had announced that the decision had been on hold. However, the Opposition parties remained firm in their demand for the withdrawal of the decision.  

Eventually, bowing to the pressure, the BJD-led Odisha government was left with no option but to send the amendment of the Odisha Scheduled Areas Transfer of Immoveable Property Regulation, 1956 to the Tribal Advisory Council for review. After making some necessary changes, the council will submit it. 

All eyes are now set on what would be the nature of the Odisha Scheduled Areas Transfer of Immoveable Property Regulation, 1956.

Meanwhile, the Cabinet also approved two other proposals received from the Electronics and Information Technology Department and the Department of Agriculture and Farmers’ Empowerment in its 67th meeting. The proposals include the upgradation of the Odisha State Workflow Automation System (OSWAS) Project and repair, reconstruction and maintenance of the building and other properties of Odisha University of Agriculture and Technology (OUAT) at a cost of Rs 491.41 crore for five years, from 2023-24 to 2027-28.