Odisha govt reminds RDCs, collectors of protecting tribal land rights

Odisha government has directed all Revenue Divisional Commissioners and District Collectors to review the issue of safeguarding land rights of tribals in scheduled areas of the State and controlling and checking transfer of their immovable properties as per Odisha Scheduled Areas Transfer of Immovable Property (OSATIP) (by Scheduled Tribes) Regulation, 1956.The Revenue and Disaster Management Department in the latest communication reminded the key authorities pertaining to 13 districts about their role in protecting tribal land rights.

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Last year, the previous Naveen Patnaik Government had drawn flak from all quarters after the Cabinet allowed tribals to transfer their land to non-tribals by way of amending the OSATIP. The then government had to put the decision on hold.As per the decision “a scheduled tribe person may, with the written permission of the sub-collector, make a gift or exchange for public purposes or obtain a loan by securing a mortgage in a public financial institution for agriculture, construction of residential house, higher studies of children, self-employment, business or establishment of small scale in