Odisha Land Transfer Row: Congress Dubs BJD Govt ‘Anti-Tribal’; Minister Counters

Bhubaneswar: Mounting a blistering attack on Odisha’s Biju Janata Dal (BJD) government, Congress on Wednesday branded it as anti-tribal and alleged that moves are afoot to grab land of tribals for allotment to industrialists and mines owners.

Hitting out at the ruling BJD over the state recent Cabinet decision on allowing transfer of tribal land, Congress MLA Tara Prasad Bahinipati claimed that a tribal legislator was made Deputy Speaker of the Assembly in a bid to cover up following a backlash.

Accusing the BJD government of having neglected the tribals for years, the Congress leader told reporters that no step was taken to enable the tribal people to take loans from banks for pursuing studies and starting business.

However, Congress is strongly opposed to any move to allow transfer or sale of land owned by tribals to non-tribals, he said, accusing the government of plotting to snatch away land from tribals.

Congress will welcome if tribals are allowed to mortgage their land for availing loans, but this decision of the government appears to be a conspiracy to loot the tribals, Bahinipati said, adding that the government sought to cover up later following criticism.

If the government is genuinely interested in the welfare of the tribals, it should implement PESA law as demanded by Congress, he said.

Responding to Congress criticism, Revenue and Disaster Management Minister Sudam Marndi said the issue relating to tribal land transfer has not matured at the government and is yet to become a property of the Assembly.

The matter was yet to mature and subsequently Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik withheld the move, he said, adding that the CM has all along been working for the welfare of tribals. Odisha is perhaps the only state handing over land rights and pattas to tribals, he said.

Stating that Special Development Councils (SDC) have been set up in 23 of the 30 districts, the Minister said Odisha is a frontrunner in providing educational and health care facilities to the tribals.

He said special hostels have been set up for boys and girls belonging to Scheduled Tribes (ST) and free food and uniform are provided to the students to elevate their educational standard. Over 20,000 students are getting the benefit of a novel scheme launched on the pattern of CBSE, he said.

Marndi, himself a tribal leader, targeted BJP and Congress accusing the opposition parties of having done little for tribals. Though eight BJP MPs from the state represent tribal areas, they have never worked for their welfare, he claimed.

The BJD leader hit out at the BJP-led government at the Centre for not considering Odisha’s demand for exempting kendu leaf trade from GST. He said thousands of tribals are engaged in kendu leaf plucking activity.

It may be noted here that the state government on November 17 said it has withheld the decision taken in the Cabinet meeting held on November 14 regarding the transfer of tribal land.

The proposed Amendment to Regulation-2 of 1956 discussed in the Cabinet meeting held on 14th November 2023, regarding the transfer of Tribal lands has been withheld, Marndi had posted on X.

Earlier on November 14, the state Cabinet had decided to amend a law allowing the scheduled tribe people to transfer their land to non-tribals in scheduled areas with written permission from the sub-collector.