Hyderabad, October 30: Union Minister for Rural Development, Drinking Water and Sanitation Jairam Ramesh announced that the Centre would set up para-legal centres in each of the 60 left-wing extremists affects districts in the country.
Addressing an international conference on ‘Para-legal models to resolve land problems of the poor and tribals in India’ at Nalsar University of Law at Shamirpet here on Saturday, he said that the steps would be taken to solve the land related issues with the help of the para-legal centres in those districts.
Jairam Ramesh also applauded the Andhra Pradesh government for having a progressive Relief and Rehabilitation package for project affected families and displaced persons. He also appreciated the efforts taken by the Singareni Collieries for environmental management.
Speaking on the occasion, Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy said that the government has initiated several steps to computerise all land records in the state. Describing the State as a pioneer in land ceiling, he said that around 55 lakh acres of land have been given to the poor in the state which can be used by the beneficiaries for cultivation. The state government has taken steps for levelling and developing of 30 lakh acres in these 55 lakh acres.
The Chief Minister also said that the government has launched a massive program ‘Indira Jala Prabha’ to benefit six lakh below poverty line SC and ST families on October 2. As part of the scheme the government will provide irrigation facility, drip irrigation and dig bore wells in 10 lakh acres belonging to BPL families of SC and ST communities to provide a permanent solution to their livelihood problem.
The Chief Minister said that government would be launching a pilot project in Chittoor, Khammam and Krishna districts where all the certificates are issued online to the beneficiaries within 15 minutes. The scheme would drastically reduce corruption. Steps are being taken to ensure that all the records are having clear title and transactions are clean, he said.
Revenue Minister N Raghuveera Reddy said that the government has distributed seven lakh acres land in five phases to the poor. Computerisation of all land records has been taken up in the state. The government has launched a series of IT initiatives with a human face. The government has also brought in an Act which will enable the licensed cultivators to access loans from the banks, he said.
Andhra Pradesh State Director of Rural Development Institute Sunil Kumar, Prof Madhabhushi Sridhar and Vice Chancellor of NALSAR Prof Veer Singh attended the conference.
——-Agencies