Anxieties, agendas: Bihar land survey opens Pandora’s box

Farmers in Bihar face challenges proving land ownership amid a controversial land survey aimed at updating records, sparking disputes and anxiety.

It’s been two months but the lines on Naresh Prasad’s forehead have only got deeper. In August, the 45-year-old farmer started searching for documents to prove ownership over 30 bighas (a bigha is around 0.62 acre) of land in Patna district, but to no avail.

An official interacts with villagers during the land survey in Bihar on Thursday. (HT Photo)

He has visited the local circle office and the district headquarters four times in this period in search of a rent receipt that will prove his family has paid the government money for the land