Roshni bill to give ownership to farmers in J

Jammu, Feb 9 (UNI) The Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly today passed the historic Roshni Bill aimed at giving free of cost ownership rights to 16.60 lakh kanals of state land under the occupation of farmers in the state.

Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad, moving the bill with an amendment in the Lower House said a nominal fee of Rs 100 per kanal would have to be paid by the occupant farmers for getting mutation in their favour in revenue records.

He said the bill will be seen as yet another revolutionary step in the annals of history in the state after the land to tiller act.

The bill is a highly farmer friendly gesture of the government and would help in a big way in giving a boost to the farming sector, he added.

Describing agriculture as the backbone of the state's economy, Chief Minister said unless the farming community is socially and economically well-off, boosting farm produce to cater to the requirements of the state is not possible.

''Giving ownership rights to farmers under occupation of state land for agricultural purposes free of cost is a decision of far reaching positive impact on the overall agriculture scenario and the step of the government to this effect would always be recognized a revolutionary one,'' he said.

G M Saroori while putting forth his views on the Roshni bill said it is highly farmer friendly and a historic one in the last 60 years and the people of the state would remember this farmen friendly gesture of the government forever.

UNI