Landless people are facing the worst life in world. There position is no different in our country and region. Land is considered as an important resource as it provides habitation to a wide variety of flora and fauna. It is also used by human beings for various purposes such as agriculture, forestry, mining, building houses and roads, and setting up industries.
Jammu and Kashmir had huge population that was landless and ignored by the successive erstwhile State Governments. Be it the National Conference and Congress that ruled the Jammu and Kashmir longest or People’s Democratic Party, the issues of landless people were always ignored. The only thing that was done in name of land was scam after scam. Now, post abrogation of article 370 the realities with referred to it are fast changing. The announcement made on the 3rd July, 2023 by Honorable Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha Ji would forever provide hope and quality life to the landless people of Jammu and Kashmir.
As a matter of fact, Lieutenant Governor J&K Manoj Sinha has announced that five Marla’s land for the landless families of J&K and stated that about two lac homeless families are being provided homes in the Union Territory under Prime Minister’s Awas Yojna scheme.
“During discussions in Administrative Council and with the officials of Revenue and Rural Development Department, it has been decided that 5 Marlas of land will be given to the landless families of Jammu and Kashmir. In this regard 2711 families have been provided land while as more will be given shortly,” LG Sinha as per KNS said while addressing a press conference here in Raj Bhawan Srinagar.
Homeless families of Jammu and Kashmir have erupted with Joy. Lieutenant Governor has not just stopped here as he confidentially asserted that. LG Sinha said that as far as homeless families are concerned a total of 199550 families have been identified and till June 21st, 144000 families have been given sanction while remaining will also be covered soon.
Replying to a query, the LG Sinha said that there is a proper eligibility criterion which is being followed. “Whosoever is eligible is being covered,” he said.
“The land and homes are being provided to the eligible people in their respective Panchayat’s only. It is not like someone who is eligible in Anantnag district and will be given a home in Samba,” the LG maintained. It has been aim of the LG Manoj Sinha lead administration to take Jammu and Kashmir to new heights.
Last year in the month of February, The Administrative Council (AC) which met here under the chairmanship of the Lieutenant Governor, Manoj Sinha approved the proposal of Revenue Department to transfer various parcels of land for public purposes.
On that instance too, The Administrative Council approved the transfer of land measuring 63 Kanal 4 Marla in favour of Higher Education Department for construction of a new Government Degree College in village Firsal, District Kulgam. The decision aims to provide quality higher education opportunities to students of the region and boost employment of teaching and non-teaching staff through various recruiting agencies.
Moreover, approval was given to the transfer of land measuring 2 kanal and 5 Marla in favour of Health & Medical Education Department for construction of a health centre at Jawaharpora in District Pulwama. Once completed, the institution will provide modern medical facilities to the people of the area.
Previous Governments especially dynastic parties that ruled Jammu and Kashmir had given just ugly scams like Roshni act. Enacted in 2001, the Roshni Act had proposed to transfer ownership of state land to its occupants for a fee determined by the government. Money from these transfers was to fund power projects in Jammu and Kashmir – hence the moniker, “Roshni Act”.
For years, transactions under the law have been plagued by allegations of corruption and challenged in court. According to popular opinion, land allocations under the act favoured political elites and powerful officials.
LG Manoj Sinha lead administration has also acted tough against land mafia that was nurtured by NC, Congress and PDP. It has crushed the mafia.
Until February this year, The Jammu and Kashmir administration had through its ardent efforts have retrieved over 1000 kanals of state and ‘kahcharie (grazing)’ land from 94 influential persons, including several senior leaders, businessmen and senior police officials, across various parts of Kashmir Valley since an anti-encroachment drive was launched in early January, till February 5, officials on Monday said.
As per official figures available with Rising Kashmir, 1087 Kanals and 137 Marlas of state and Kahcharie land has been retrieved from 94 influential persons in Kashmir.
The historic decision made by the Honorable Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha to grant land to poor and landless will make the future of poor people of Jammu and Kashmir bright and give them safety, security on various fronts.
The sane pulse of Jammu and Kashmir is saluting this pro poor vision of the Jammu and Kashmir Government that has translated into a great reality of providing land to poor. The poor of Jammu and Kashmir long neglected by dynastic forces and selfish politics are getting their due.
(The Author is Spokesperson of BJP & Prabhari Social media)
