Hike in lease amount for village common land angers Dalits

Tribune News Service

Sangrur, May 22

The Rural Development and Panchayat Department’s directions to increase the lease amount for village common land by 5-20 per cent has angered the SC community, which wants reserved land at lower prices.

The department had stated that this year, there should be a 5-per cent increase in the lease amount for common land given at Rs 30,000 per acre last year.

Land leased out for Rs 20,000 to 30,000 per acre should fetch at least 7.5 per cent more. The department had said the lease money for plot between Rs 15,000 and Rs 20,000 should be hiked by

Rs 15 per cent, while the one given for Rs 15000 per acre, should get at least a 20 per cent hike. “Our union has been fighting with the upper caste residing in 50 villages in various districts. Dalits do not have money, while landlords want to take reserved land on lease. We have been demanding land for Dalits at lower rates. But the decision to increase it will only escalate tension,” said Sanjeev Mintu, president, Krantikari Pendu Mazdoor Union.

When contacted, Tript Rajinder Singh Bajwa, Punjab Rural Development and Panchayat Minister’s personal assistant said the minister was busy attending a meeting.

Jhaloor Dalits get land

Sangrur: After over two-year wait, Dalits of Jhaloor village on Tuesday got the possession of reserved land after an auction. Clashes between Dalita and upper caste keep taking place over the possession of reserved land in the area. “We have got 16.5 acres from the village common land,” said Gurmukh Singh, a member of the Zameen Prapti Sangharash Committee. —TNS