Post News Network
Bhubaneswar, July 8: In a bid to recognise and protect the interests of sharecroppers, the state government Friday prepared a draft land leasing law under which the sharecroppers can avail farm loans and crop insurance among other government benefits. The government has decided to bring the new legislation by August this year.
The decision was taken at an inter-ministerial committee meeting held under the chairmanship of revenue and disaster management minister Bijayshree Routray at Secretariat here.
“We have prepared the draft to recognise the sharecroppers and ensure that they avail all kinds of government benefits. The draft will be sent to the law department for its approval before it is sent to the Cabinet following the approval of the Chief Minister,” Routray told the media.
The government has received a very good response from the farmers and sharecroppers on formulation of the new law, he said.
The draft bill would be tabled in the Assembly during the monsoon session, the minister said, adding, “We have aimed at bring the new legislation by August-end.”
It was decided that a tripartite agreement would be signed between landowner, sharecropper and the revenue inspector (RI) concerned for leasing of a land. The agreement will be signed for a period of one-ten years, added the revenue minister.
A copy of the agreement would be kept with the RI and tehsildar concerned for future reference while the sharecroppers can also avail loan from banks by producing a copy of the agreement. It would ensure that the landowner would not lose his/her land at any cost by signing the agreement, the minister assured.
Once the law comes into force, the sharecroppers would get benefits like crop insurance, crop loan, compensation in case of crop loss and all other benefits provided by the state government. Earlier, these benefits were reaching the landowners only.
Agriculture minister Pradeep Maharathy, cooperation minister Damodar Rout, SC/ST development minister Lalbihari Himirika and revenue secretary Mona Sharma, among others, attended the meeting.
