The Odisha government faced backlash for its recent decision to amend a law, allowing Scheduled Tribe (ST) people to transfer their land to non-tribals in scheduled areas. The move, initially approved by the state Cabinet on November 14, was met with opposition, leading to its suspension three days later.
In response to the criticism, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Niranjan Pujari informed the Assembly that the government had requested the repeal of the decision, based on recommendations from the Tribes Advisory Council (TAC). The TAC had previously endorsed the move during its meeting on July 11, 2023.
Opposition parties, including the BJP and Congress, called for a complete withdrawal of the decision rather than its reconsideration by the TAC. Congress Legislature Party (CLP) leader Narasingha Mishra expressed suspicion about the government's intentions, emphasizing that the Cabinet could have independently revoked the decision.
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BJP Chief Whip Mohan Majhi suggested that the government's reversal indicated a forced backtrack and exposed its alleged disregard for tribal interests. BJP MLA Nityananda Gond, a TAC member, challenged the government's claim, stating that the issue of transferring tribal land to non-tribals was never discussed in TAC meetings.
In defense, Revenue and Disaster Management Minister Sudam Marndi clarified that the state cabinet's decision was based on TAC recommendations from June 28, 2018, and reiterated on July 11, 2023. He highlighted the historical context, mentioning that before 2002, ST community members could not sell their land, and the 2002 amendments only allowed transfers to other tribals, causing difficulties for ST citizens.
