RABINARAYAN JENA, OP
Kalahandi/Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government, under the ambitious Vasundhara scheme, aims to provide homestead land to all landless people in the state. However, suitable government land for housing is not available in several tribal-dominated districts, while much of the available land is unsuitable for habitation.
As a result, 3,319 landless people in Kalahandi are waiting for allotment of land under the scheme. Similarly, 2,806 landless people in Nabarangpur, 2,541 in Rayagada, 2,314 in Koraput and 1,708 in Malkangiri have been waiting for years for government land despite applying for it.
Landless people in several other districts are also awaiting allotment.
A review meeting chaired by Revenue and Disaster Management (R&DM) Minister Suresh Pujari was held to examine ways to provide suitable government land for housing to landless people in rural areas, particularly those from vulnerable sections of society.
According to information shared at the meeting, an initial survey conducted in 2024 identified 42,915 people without homestead land in the state.
Following verification, 33,082 were found eligible.
Of them, government land has so far been allotted to 30,653 beneficiaries under the Vasundhara scheme. Similarly, an initial survey conducted in 2025 identified 58,620 people without homestead land.
After verification, 11,827 were found eligible. Of them, 3,598 have been allotted land, while the process of allotting land to the remaining 8,229 is underway.
Over the past two years, initial surveys identified a total of 1,01,535 people without homestead land in the state. Following verification, 44,909 were found eligible.
Of them, 34,251 have been allotted land, while 10,658 are yet to be allotted land.
The allotment process for the remaining beneficiaries is being carried out in phases, officials said.
Pujari said the government was making every effort to resolve the land-related problems faced by landless people.
At present, the annual family income ceiling for eligible beneficiaries without homestead land is Rs 1 lakh.
The government is also considering revising the income limit, he said. The Vasundhara scheme is an important initiative of the state government aimed at enabling landless families to lead dignified lives and realise their dream of building their own homes, the minister said.
Steps will be taken to provide land at the earliest to all eligible beneficiaries who have not yet received allotments, Pujari said.