An Urban Slum Household Area (USHA) survey was started in Khariar NAC of Nuapada district on Monday to identify beneficiaries for providing land rights to the slum dwellers under the Odisha land Right to Slum Dwellers Act 2017.
A Drone survey had already been completed a month ago; now, formation of Slum Dwellers’ Associations and a door-to-door household survey has started," informed Khariar NAC Executive Officer Kishor Kumar Sahu.
Meetings with dwellers were held in different slums for community sensitisation. Slum Dwellers’ Associations were formed in five slums, Hatpada Pada, Putu Pada, Thhutigudi Pada, Niljibandh Pada and Brahman Pada.
The meetings and the survey were conducted by a team of the NGO FIDR being led by its regional director Sarbeswar Mahapatra.
Speaking about the scheme, FIDR representatives said that those who are dwelling in the slums prior to August 2017 are eligible to get pattas of the lands. No one has to pay a single pie for availing the rights. The people do not have to run to any office for availing their lands. "About 200 slum dwellers’ households of the Khariar NAC will benefit from this scheme," said NAC Chairperson Khulana Behera.