Inter-ministerial meeting today to discuss pro-sharecropper draft bill

Bhubaneswar: An inter-ministerial committee meeting is scheduled to be held today in Bhubaneswar to discuss a proposed draft bill to protect the interest of sharecroppers in the State and ensure landowners do not lose their land.

Sources said ministers of Revenue, Agriculture, Law, Panchayati Raj and Cooperative departments, who are members of the inter-ministerial committee, will talk on possible changes to the draft bill as landowners are against the proposed law and fear that they might lose rights over their land.

Besides, the committee will discuss the contour of the new pro-sharecropper law, the sources added.

The draft bill has been prepared on basis of suggestions received by the committee from sharecroppers and landowners of 25 each from every tehsil. The committee had met earlier twice to undertake groundwork for the new law which is aimed at providing sharecroppers benefits of crop loan, financial aid during calamities and other government-sponsored programmes.

Coopeartive minister SN Patro stated, “The talks will be on finding ways to identify ryots and how their interest can be safeguarded.”