Give ownership rights to landless poor: Kejri

Chief minister Arvind Kejriwal has written to lieutenant governor Anil Baijal, urging him to grant ownership rights to people alloted small plots of gram sabha land in outer Delhi under the Centre’s 20-point programme around three decades ago.

In his letter on Tuesday, Kejriwal reminded that all states had already granted ownership to the allottees under the scheme but is yet to be implemented in the city as the decision is pending with the Centre for five years.

The Delhi government had approved the Bhumidhari (ownership) right in 2012 but as the then L-G had a difference of opinion on this issue, he had referred the matter to the President.

“Since then, this issue is pending with the President...either L-G withdraws this reference from the President and grants approval to granting Bhumidari Rights or L-G may use his good offices to get this proposal passed from the Centre and President,” Kejriwal said.

The CM said the L-G had the authority to take a decision as it’s a matter related to ‘land’, which is a central subject in case of Delhi.

“I have been informed that those who are still in possession of the allotted land and are carrying out agricultural activities, as per the allotment of conditions have a statutory right to the grant of Bhoomidhari (ownership) rights over such parcels of land,” Kejriwal said in the letter.

Speaking to reporters at the Delhi secretariat, deputy CM Manish Sisodia said thousands of families living in Mehrauli, Najafgarh, Kanjhawala, Narela and Alipur, who had been allotted small parcels of gram sabha land in the 1970s and early 1980s, are “facing hardship”.

He said the basic objective of these land allocations was to eradicate poverty and to improve the quality of life of the poor and the underprivileged sections.