Odisha to bring Bill to safeguard sharecroppers' interests

Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government will introduce a land leasing legislation during the monsoon session of the state assembly to safeguard the interests of sharecroppers, Revenue Minister Bijayshree Routray said on Friday.

"Since the sharecroppers do not get compensation during natural calamities, the Bill would enable them to get compensation. Besides, the sharecroppers will get input subsidy, insurance and loan on the leased land," Routray said.

An inter-ministerial meeting was held on Friday to discuss the draft legislation. The inter-ministerial panel comprises of Cooperation Minister, Law and Panchayati Raj Minister, Agriculture Minister, and Revenue Minister.

Routray said the draft of the Bill has been finalised and will now be examined by the law department.

"Once it is approved by the chief minister, it will be referred to the Cabinet," he said.

A land leasing agreement will be signed for a minimum of one year and will have three parties to it: landowner, sharecropper (lessee or tenant), and the local revenue inspector representing the government, he said.

All three parties will keep a copy of the agreement; the sharecropper can use their copy to take out a bank loan, the minister said.

He said the government will ensure that the landowners will not lose their right over their land in such a leasing arrangement.