In a major development, the State Government has decided to allot homestead land to landless transgender and differently- abled persons under the Vasundhara scheme.
“As you are aware, the State Government is fully committed to the principles of empowerment of differently abled persons and their full and effective participation and inclusion in society and is attaching utmost priority to provide equality of opportunity and better quality in life. In this context, Government desires that the instruction issued in 1999 and 2006 that while making allotment of Government land under OGlS, 1962 and Rules for house-site and agriculture purpose and distributing ceiling surplus lands under the provisions of OlR Act, 1960 and Rules, preference should be given to disabled persons . The instructions may be followed scrupulously at the time of allotment of land,” wrote Revenue and Disaster Management Secretary Mona Sharma to all district Collectors.
Similarly, Revenue and Disaster Management Department Joint Secretary Sashadhar Nayak in wrote to all district Collectors that, “After careful consideration the State Government has been pleased to decide that on fulfilling all criteria as indicated in Odisha Government land Settlement Rules, 1983, a transgender can be eligible to get the benefits of house site in rural areas under Vasundhara Scheme.”
All Collectors have been asked to ensure the allotment of homestead land in favour of transgender. The decision of providing Government land to transgender was taken following the Supreme Court’s order to the Centre and State Governments to frame various social and welfare schemes for the betterment of transgender. Under Vasundhara Scheme launched in 2006 each homestead-less families in rural areas will get 10 decimals land.