Chhattisgarh government to withdraw controversial tribal land bill

The Chhattisgarh Land Revenue Code (Amendment) Bill, 2017 was passed by the legislative assembly in the winter session.

Published on: Jan 12, 2018, 12:25:04 IST

Hindustan Times, Raipur | By Ritesh Mishra, Raipur

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Faced with opposition from tribal orgainsations and Congress, the Chhattisgarh government on Thursday has decided to withdraw a controversial amendment bill related to procuring land from tribals.

The state cabinet, at a meeting chaired by chief minister Raman Singh, on Thursday evening, decided to withdraw the bill in consideration of the sentiments expressed by leaders of tribal communities. (PTI FILE PHOTO)

The Chhattisgarh Land Revenue Code (Amendment) Bill, 2017 has a clause which says: Only state can buy the land of the tribals with their consent. The bill was passed by the legislative assembly in the winter session.

On Wednesday, senior Congress leaders met governor Balram Das Tandon, submitted a memorandum, and urged him not to give his consent to the bill.

The state cabinet, at a meeting chaired by chief minister Raman Singh, on Thursday evening, decided to withdraw the bill in consideration of the sentiments expressed by leaders of tribal communities.

The controversial bill has been opposed by all the major tribal leaders, tribal organisations and opposition parties of the state.

Terming it a “black law”, the opposition demanded that the bill should be withdrawn as it is an attempt to usurp the land of the tribals of the state.

A couple of days ago, the tribal organisations of the state boycotted the meeting of revenue officers, which was scheduled to redress the grievances and apprehensions regarding the bill.

The government claimed that the bill was passed to speed up the development projects such as roads and other projects in the state and that the land could only be purchased with the consent of the owner.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Ritesh Mishra
Ritesh Mishra is the State Correspondent for Chhattisgarh with Hindustan Times. He reports on Maoism, internal security, politics, mining, governance, and major developments shaping the state. Based in Raipur, he has covered Chhattisgarh since 2016, reporting extensively from the Bastar region and other conflict-affected areas. With nearly two decades of experience in journalism, Ritesh has built a reputation for ground reporting from some of India's most challenging terrains. His coverage spans Left-Wing Extremism, counter-insurgency operations, elections, tribal affairs, environmental issues, infrastructure, mining, and socio-economic developments. He has reported on major security operations, policy initiatives, wildlife crime, and the changing dynamics of conflict and development in Central India. Before moving to Chhattisgarh, Ritesh spent eight years reporting from Madhya Pradesh, covering politics, administration, crime, development, and social issues. Throughout his career, he has reported on various forms of extremism in Central India, combining field reporting with in-depth analysis to produce accurate, balanced, and impactful journalism. Prior to joining Hindustan Times, Ritesh worked with The Pioneer and The Free Press Journal, where he covered a wide range of beats and honed his skills in political, investigative, and field reporting. His reporting is marked by exclusive stories, extensive fieldwork, and a commitment to factual, on-the-ground journalism that brings complex issues to a wider audience.Read More

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