During 1975-76, as part of the central government’s "20-point programme," 3,204 "landless" individuals were granted agricultural land, and 1,289 others received 120-square-yard plots in Delhi. Union Housing and Urban Affairs Minister Manohar Lal shared these details in a written reply to the Lok Sabha on Thursday.
The minister confirmed that ownership rights have been conferred to allottees who met the lease's terms and conditions. The "20-point programme," initiated in 1975, aimed to address poverty, boost rural employment, provide housing, improve education and family welfare, protect the environment, and enhance the quality of life. Over the years, the programme has undergone restructuring in 1982, 1986, and 2006, with its latest iteration becoming operational on April 1, 2007.
Distribution of Agricultural Land
A significant portion of the land allotments in 1975-76 was concentrated in certain regions of Delhi:
Southwest Delhi saw the highest number of recipients, with 2,706 individuals allotted agricultural land.
North Delhi accounted for 389 beneficiaries.
West Delhi saw 99 people receiving land.
Additionally, 1,289 plots, each measuring 120 square yards, were distributed under the same programme to address urban landlessness.
Recent Updates on Land Ownership
In response to a query on whether the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) had issued ownership notifications for landless individuals and villages over the last decade, Minister Manohar Lal clarified that no such notifications had been made.
He also provided details about Gram Sabha lands in Delhi. To date, approximately 16,000 acres of land from 252 villages have been transferred to the DDA by the central government. The urbanization of these villages, conducted under Section 507 of the Delhi Municipal Act, 1957, led to the dissolution of their respective Gram Sabhas.
The minister explained that under Section 150(3) of the Delhi Land Reforms Act, 1954, assets held by Gram Sabhas are automatically vested in the central government upon urbanization. The central government subsequently placed these lands under the DDA's control, as per Section 22(1) of the Delhi Development Act, 1957.
Significance of the Programme
The land allocations in the 1970s highlight the government’s efforts to combat poverty and provide opportunities for landless individuals. However, the lack of recent ownership notifications points to challenges in addressing contemporary land ownership issues, especially in urbanized regions.
This historic initiative underscores the importance of sustained reforms to address the needs of marginalized communities in both rural and urban settings.
(This article is a reworked version of a PTI feed.)