LAND TO LANDLESS POOR AGRICULTURAL FAMILIES

LAND TO LANDLESS POOR AGRICULTURAL FAMILIES :

As announced in the Budget speech for 2006-2007, the special scheme for distribution of Government Waste Lands to landless poor agricultural families was evolved. This is being implemented in the following three categories:

i) Assignment of Government Poramboke
lands free from encroachment.

ii) Assignment of Government Poramboke
lands encroached upon by landless,
marginal and small farmers.

iii) Development and Reclamation of Patta
Waste lands owned by small and marginal farmers.

• Certain Special measures have been introduced to ensure that the selection of beneficiaries by the Village Committees is open and transparent and it is subsequently placed before the Grama Sabhas. This apart, the land is distributed to the landless beneficiaries only after necessary land development and reclamation wherever required, dovetailing with various schemes being executed by the Departments of Agriculture and Rural Development.

• The first Phase of the distribution of land under this scheme was launched by the Hon’ble Chief Minister Dr.Kalaignar on 17.9.2006 in Thiruvallur District. During the first phase, a total extent of 25,282.11 acres under all the 3 categories mentioned above has been reclaimed wherever necessary and distributed to 24,358 landless and poor agricultural families. The Second Phase of distribution was launched on 17.12.2006 by the Hon’ble Chief Minister in Villupuram District.

• This has benefited 26,749 landless and poor agricultural families covering an extent of 25,805.53 acres. For the Third Phase distribution on 17.3.2007, an extent of 26,029.61 acres was distributed to 20,648 poor agricultural families. For the IV Phase distribution on 17.6.2007 at Tirunelveli, an extent of 24,505.86 acres was distributed to 19821 poor agricultural families in all the above 3 categories. Over all achievement under V phase of the total waste lands distributed to the landless agricultural families as on 28.9.2007 is 1,33,688.72 acres. Number of beneficiaries is 1,16,508.