Bhubaneswar, May 22: In a significant step aimed at protecting the land rights of Scheduled Caste (SC) and Scheduled Tribe (ST) communities in Odisha, the state government has announced new measures to prevent their lands from being acquired by wealthier individuals and organizations through coercive or exploitative means.
The initiative was announced by Revenue Minister Suresh Pujari on Thursday. Under the new policy, if SC/ST landowners need to sell their land due to critical circumstances—such as a daughter’s wedding, medical emergencies, or higher education expenses—the state government will purchase the land to ensure fair compensation and protect community interests.
To implement this, the government will create a dedicated corpus fund that will enable timely purchase of such land parcels. The land will be held by the government for a period of two to three years, during which the original owners will have the option to buy it back. If the land is not reclaimed, it will be auctioned exclusively to other members of the SC/ST communities, ensuring that ownership remains within the marginalized groups.
A high-level committee has already been formed to oversee the scheme. It is headed by the Additional Chief Secretary of the Revenue Department and includes the Principal Secretary and Director of the ST & SC Development, Minorities & Backward Classes Welfare Department, as well as senior officials and subject matter experts.
The policy will be shaped through continuous engagement with tribal communities, political parties, and advisory legislative bodies to reflect diverse viewpoints and ensure effective implementation.
Minister Pujari emphasized that the strategy aims to strike a balance between individual needs and community preservation.
Explaining the rationale behind the move, the Revenue Minister noted that SC and ST landowners are permitted to sell their land only under exceptional circumstances. However, many are often targeted by wealthy and influential individuals who use manipulation or pressure tactics to force land sales. These sales are frequently routed through applications under Sections 22 and 23 of the Odisha Land Reforms (OLR) Act, 1960.
“Our findings from District Collectors reveal that only 10–15% of SC/ST landowners approach the Sub-Registrar’s office voluntarily to sell their land. The majority do so under some form of coercion,” Pujari said. “This initiative is designed to prevent such unethical practices.”
