Odisha first to distribute maximum land titles under FRA: Minister

Bhubaneswar: Odisha is the first state to distribute maximum number of land titles (patta) under the Forest Rights Act, 2006, informed SC/ST Development, Minorities and Backward Classes Welfare Minister Ramesh Chandra Majhi today, after a review meeting on implementation of the Act.

Majhi said till date 4,5,897 people have been provided with individual land titles and 5,891 with community land titles. All the district collectors have been instructed for demarcation of the allotted land within March 2018, added Majhi.

The minister further said, 20 villages have been identified as revenue villages by the state government. And the villages where 80 to 90 percent people will receive the land titles will also be converted as revenue villages.

Talking to mediapersons, Majhi said, "6,7,988 acre land titles have been provided till date under individual rights and 2,86,381 acre under community rights. Decision on the claims that have been rejected will again be decided by the committee at district level by Collectors and at sub-divisional level by Sub-Collectors."