BHUBANESWAR: The Maoist-infested Laxmipur block in Koraput district which hogged the headlines for the wrong reason was back in the news on Tuesday.In a move that will help resolve the current crisis over land dispute, nearly 500 landless tribal families were given pattas under the land allocation programme, initiated by the Odisha Tribal Empowerment and Livelihoods Programme (OTELP).These tribal families from Minapai, Balingi, Talakotinga, Ledriguda, Chendiaguda, Kenduada, Bhitarguda, Karaguda, Koijhankar, DP Guda villages of Laxmipur tehasil of Koraput district were living on Government land for ages. Their age old dreams were realised on Tuesday after securing land rights of homestead land on which they have constructed houses, OTELP sources said.The State Government has identified agricultural land for distribution among those families who are either landless or possess land less than one standard acre. In the first phase, records of rights of homestead land will be given to families who do not have such land, the sources said.Like Narayanpatna, Laxmipur is the other block of Koraput district, where the local people are fighting for their land rights with support of the Maoists. The recent abduction of Laxmipur MLA Jhina Hikaka by the Maoists is a part of the struggle of the Odisha Chasi Mulia Sangha for land reforms.Earlier this month, the State Government distributed pattas for homestead land among 2,554 landless tribal families of 83 villages in six districts under OTELP.The land allocation programme initiated by OTELP in collaboration with rural Development Institute will enable the beneficiaries to access numerous government schemes and benefits meant for the poor and marginalised.Another 600 landless families from 12 revenue circles of Khallikote tehasil in Ganjam district received patta under various welfare schemes of the state. These beneficiaries belong to Kandhamula, Sumandal, P Nuagaon, Barida, Kanchana, Khojapalli, Kanheipur, Keshpur, Rambha, Khallikote, Chikili and Mathura revenue circles.Many people of the district who have been enjoying the benefit of Gramakantha Paramboke kisam land for decades but unable to get ownership of the land due to deficiency in the revenue laws are now the rightful owner after amendment of the Orissa Land Settlement Act, 1962.Persons in occupation of such land are unable to avail of institutional finance for construction of houses or other purposes by mortgaging the land.Similarly, a large number of people are in possession of abadi, khasmahal and nazul lands on the basis of lease granted by the Government.Over eight lakh people of undivided Koraput and Ganjam districts who are in possession of such lands are facing problems during sale or mortgaging their landed property.
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