Slum dwellers gherao collectorate demanding land records under Jaga Mission

Nayagarh: Tension prevailed in Nayagarh after hundreds of landless slum dwellers gheraoed the Collectorate alleging irregularities in implementation of Jaga Mission. Though nearly 700 beneficiaries were identified, land pattas were issued to 400 persons leading to resentment among the left out beneficiaries.

“We had come to submit a memorandum to the district administration as land pattas are yet to be issued to us. We will end of our lives if land pattas are not provided by February 10,” said Anantbala Patnaik, a slum dweller.

In Nayagarh NAC, 400 persons have been provided land pattas in the first phase and we assure that no person will be left out under the scheme, said local MLA Arun Sahoo.

“Due to land related problems, land pattas could not have been provided to some identified beneficiaries. Already, we have asked the district Collector to speed up the process,” said Sahoo.

It is pertinent to mention here that Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik had launched the ‘Jaga Mission’ in 2018 to provide land rights (patta) to thousands of landless slum dwellers in the State. Official sources said, the State government targets to provide land rights to around 18 lakh urban slum dwellers residing in Municipal Corporation and Notified Area Council (NAC) areas as under the Jaga Mission.