Orissa Government to strengthen tribals land rights

Bhubaneshwar June 24(ANI): The Orissa government has decided to bring amendments to Orissa Scheduled Tribe and Traditional Dwellers Act, 2006, to pave way for tribals to continue in the land occupied by them.

The Government has so far identified about 20,000 tribals who are traditional forest dwellers but hold no land rights.

This announcement came after the Chief Minister Navin Patnaik's visit to the areas of the trouble hit Narayanpatna in Korapat district.

Today's decision of the Orissa government is significant as, thousands of activists of Maoists backed tribal outfit Chasi Muliya Adivasi Sangh (CMAS) led by Nachika Linga, forcibly occupied nearly 800acres of agricultural land belonging to non-tribals across Narayanpatna block, earlier this month.

To counter the Maoist from taking an advantage of the situation Chief Minister Patanaik instructed the Revenue, the Scheduled Tribes and Scheduled Castes Development Departments to ensure that not an inch of tribal land should not be remained in possession of non-tribals.

The Orissa Government has also decided to strictly enforce laws under the land reforms act and tribal laws to give justice to the tribal population of the sate and to launch awareness drive to educate tribals about their rights.

Revenue Minister S N Patro said the Governemnt has decided to rovide legal assistance to the tribals who are not in a position o fight out their cases and if necessary it will bear all the legal expenses. (ANI)