Land ownership rights to tribals soon--Centre

Jaipur, Oct 1 (UNI) The UPA Government at the Centre has assured categorically that tribal people would soon be granted land ownership right for the forest land under their possession.

Union Minister of State for Environment and Forest Namo Narain Meena told a tribal's meet here today that as per the new law enacted by Parliament, tribal people would be granted land ownership title for forest land being possessed by them on or before December 13, 2005.

Mr Meena said the Congress President Ms Sonia Gandhi had made commitment to the tribal people for grant of the land right during the Lok Sabha elections and the UPA Government had fulfilled the commitment by making the law.

He said land rights were the matter of vital importance for tribal people and henceforth no one would evacuate them from their land.

Union Tribal Affairs Minister PR Kyndiah had assured that the notification for rules and procedures for grant of the land rights would be issued soon.

He said it was wrong to say that Centre was delaying the process of land transfer to the tribal people, He said the process of rules formulation and finalisation took the time and now the rules had already been finalised for issuance of notification.

UNI