TAC agrees to relax tribal land deal restrictions

Tribal Advisory Council (TAC) has agreed, in principle, to ease the provisions under stringent Santhal Pargana Act and Chhotanagpur Tenancy Act (SPT and CNT Acts) a little so that it can become friendlier in sale and purchase of lands involving Scheduled Tribes of Jharkhand.The highest-decision making body relating to the matters of tribals in the Scheduled-V areas is very likely to take a final call on the subject in its next meeting.

As per the unanimity achieved in TAC meeting on Friday, condition to purchase tribal land by any tribal within the boundary of a police station would be waived. "This has been causing lots of issues before the tribals. Most of the TAC members agreed to extend the boundary and open it for all over the State. Final decision in this regard would be taken later after some more deliberations and it is expected that the proposal would be approved in the next TAC meeting," said a senior official present in the meeting.

The provision of the twin Acts prevents even a tribal from purchasing land of another tribal outside his domicile police station which presumably leads to lower price of tribal lands. Voices from within the tribal community for doing away with the conditionality have been vocal as well as oppositions that fear that it would open a flood gate for rich and influential community members to make a loot of land using their money and muscle power. 

"It is still there and we have expressed our reservations before the TAC. looking at changing scenario, the provision needs relaxation but with sufficient checks and balances. We would provide written submissions and advises about this to the TAC ahead of a final call is taken," said Ratan Tirkey, a Council member headed by Chief Minister Raghubar Das.

TAC also discussed prominently denial of bank loan to a scheduled tribal person in the want of land mortgage option. The Chief Minister stressed on the requirement for tribal students in particular who face great difficulty in getting education loan against their land. "The Government does not want to alter with the true spirit of the SPT and CNT Acts but welfare and providing education opportunity to tribal youth is equally important for us. We need to chalk out a mechanism that can be win-win for both the bankers and tribals," said Das in the meeting.

On this, the TAC decided to form a dedicated sub-committee involving tribal and land experts, retire senior officials from the community and bankers in couple of days. The committee would submit a detailed report suggesting a way out before the next TAC meet.Broad opinion on the contentious issue emerged that the State should play saviour or guarantor against the bank loans taken by tribals so that in case of anyone turning defaulter the land mortgaged could be saved from being auctioned. "As soon as the banks agree to make available loans for education, housing or business there would be huge demand for it among tribals who are mostly poor and possess small piece of land. Now, it is the duty of the State to intervene, protect the land and safeguard their interests and also the bankers at the same time," said Tirkey.         

The CM, when pointed out by some of the members about problems faced in getting receipt for land from circle offices, directed Welfare and land Revenue Secretaries to look into the matter on urgent basis. This apart, work on forming rules for TAC would also be expedited. The Council would also get a permanent full fledged office premise most likely at the Tribal Research Centre.Welfare Minister louis Marandi, Rural Development Minister Neelkanth Singh Munda, several MlAs and top officials and heads of Departments were present in the meeting.