Now, siblings to share property in Spiti

Pratibha Chauhan

Tribune News Service

Shimla, June 29

The age-old custom of the ancestral property in the Buddhist tribal land of the Spiti valley being inherited by the eldest male child, with others leading a monastic life or fending for themselves through petty jobs, could be a thing of the past as the Himachal Government has decided to ensure equal share to all siblings.

The government has even started a survey to identify the eligible persons who will be entitled to a share in the property under this changed decision. Interestingly, this change in the customary law, prevalent in the entire tribal areas of the state, including Kinnaur and Lahaul and Spiti, will be enforced retrospectively. The population of Spiti is 11,000 with a majority of them being Buddhists.

“We are getting a survey done to find out the eligible persons once the customary law of only the eldest male child (Bara Ghar) inheriting the entire property changes. This will be applicable retrospectively so that all younger siblings (Chota Ghar) get an equal share in the property as per the Hindu Succession Act,” said Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh here today.

He said during his visits to Spiti, he learnt that the younger siblings either join the monastery or nunneries or work as labourers or open small shops for a living. “We feel that this age-old tradition must change as in some cases, the other siblings find it very difficult to eke out an existence,” he said.

He added that the entire process would be completed shortly and land be given to all siblings who had not got the share.

It is only last week that the High Court had given a verdict, giving rights to all tribal women in the ancestral property. The women of Kinnaur had been waging a battle for the last one decade and had urged the National Women Commission and the National Human Rights Commission to intervene to get them their due.

“It is a customary law, followed willingly by the people, with the objective of propagating the Buddhist religion and at the same time ensuring that there is no fragmentation of land,” said Ravi Thakur, Vice-Chairman of the National Commission for Tribal and MLA from Lahaul-Spiti. He added that the religion and belief were a matter of personal choice and there could be no binding on anyone.

TN Shanoo from Ladakh, who is a member of the National Commission for Tribals, said such a move was welcome. “In Ladakh, all siblings get a share in the property and sending one male child to become a monk is not binding though most families follow it,” he said.

The two tribal districts of Kinnaur and Lahaul Spiti have a sizeable Buddhist population.