Background

                Tripura is a small and hilly state. People from different races and culture are living here. The socio-economical status of these people is not so standard. Most of the people in this state maintain their livelihood on agriculture and forest. There are “jhumias” and other tribals living in the remote areas with poor economical background .A number of people has no land for agriculture, and some of them are not having their own land to reside. Considering the practical situation of such Homeless & landless people, the Government of Tripura has taken initiative to provide land to the landless & home to homeless. The Government, through Revenue Department, has realized that the development of the State is not possible without improving the socio-economical status of the common people in the state. The Revenue Department has decided to provide a minimum quantum of land to such people and to arrange allocation of IAY houses to such beneficiaries.

Initiative Taken

             As a part of land reforms, one of the most successful ventures of the Revenue Department is land distribution. Land distribution in the state is conducted as per rules and regulation in the Tripura Land Revenue & Land Reforms Act, 1960 and Tripura Land Revenue and Land reforms (Allotment of Land) Rules, 1980. Since inception, the Department has been distributing “khas” land i.e. Govt. Land to the target groups through District Administration. This has been an ongoing process which is being carried out by the Revenue Department successfully. The State Government has a target to provide home to each & every BPL family in the State.

            During Survey & Settlement Operation, allotment is given by the Directorate of Land Records & Settlement on the basis of application from the requiring family. Afterwards, this task is undertaken by the District Administration through Tehasil office. Proposals for allotment are initiated by the Sub-Divisional Magistrates (SDMs) on the basis of the applications received by each Tehsilder in the Tehsil Kacharies. A mouja- wise Register is being maintained by the Tehsilder which contains the names of families with their details, already occupying khas land. This Register has been updated in consultation with the Panchayet Secretaries of Gram Panchayats . The local Panchayet takes initiatives to select appropriate families who are really in need of land for home. The Tehasilders conduct field inquires & submit proposals to the Sub-Divisional Level Allotment Committee (SDLAC) the Chairman of which is normally a Public Representative. On approval of the proposal by SDLAC, the DM & Collector approves the proposals, and accordingly the ‘patta’ is prepared & distributed by the SDM. Individual Allotment needs approval of the Revenue Department if the land is situated within a distance of 5 KM radius from the Block Head Quarter & 8 KM radius from the Sub-Divisional Head Quarter. Every Sub-division is carrying out such activities with special initiative.

            At present, a Tehsil level Allotment Committee has also been formed as per order of the Revenue Department in respect to each and every Tehsils in the State. This committee will carry out identification of appropriate land and eligible landless/homeless families for allotment.

            The department is also undertaking the task of distribution of “khas” land to Government Departments, both State & Central PSUs, other private originations as per rules. In this respect, the requisition from the concerned Department is mandatory. Such allotment is recommended by a Site Selection Committee, constituted with high officials in the Sub-Divisional Level and the allotment is finalized with the approval of the Revenue department. In this way, the Revenue department is actively participating in the development of the State.