Landless in tribal areas to get land

Tribune News Service

Shimla, July 29

Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh has said his government is committed to providing nautor land to the landless in the tribal districts of Kinnaur and Lahaul Spiti and also the younger siblings who, owing to the local customs, were denied a share in the ancestral property.

He was presiding over the 44th meeting of the Tribal Advisory Council here today. Virbhadra said Rs 984.53 crore was being spent on various development works in the tribal areas in 2015-16.

He said an age-old age tradition was still practising in Lahaul and Spiti where there was a Bara Ghar (house of elder brother) and Chhota Ghar (house of the younger brother) and the elder inherited the entire property whereas the siblings either joined the monastery or nunneries or work as labourers.

“I am of the opinion that this tradition must change and have issued direction that a policy should be formulated within six months so that all younger siblings get their share,” he remarked.

Virbhadra said there were many cases coming to his office regarding providing land to the landless in Spiti as they had not been given any share in the family property.

Taking cognizance of the delay in laying 66 KV electric line till Kaza and Losar in Spiti, the Chief Minister asked the Chief Secretary to look into the cause for delay and place the report before the government.

The Chief Minister said a sub-committee should be constituted under the Chairmanship of Forest Minister, with the Secretary, Law, Secretary, Forests, Secretary, Tribal Development, Principal Chief Conservator Forest to look into the forest clearance cases in tribal areas so that the development works were not hampered.

He also asked for details of the works along with the expenditure being undertaken under the Local Area Development Fund in Kinnaur district within 10 days. He also inquired about the detailed report of the posts which got transferred along with the incumbent from tribal areas. He said the survey ofa tunnel from Chamba to Pangi should be expedited as it would reduce the distance to Killar considerably.

The Chief Minister, however, directed the Health Department to fill vacant posts of doctor and paramedical staff in tribal areas within two months. He asked officials to dispatch the consignment of drugs of ayurveda, homeopathy and allopathy in the tribal areas before winter sets in by September or October.