The Odisha Dalita Adhikaar Manch has demanded implementation of the Land Reforms laws to provide protection to migrant and agriculture labourers and sharecroppers in the State.
The Manch made a resolution in this regard at its general body meeting held here on Thursday under the chairmanship of Manch chairman Manas Jena.
Many migrant and agriculture labourers and sharecroppers from different districts expressed their plights at the meeting. “Lakshs of rural poor have been deprived of getting homestead and cultivable land as the Land Reforms Act has not been executed in the State,” they said.
“The main objective of the Land Reforms Act was to do away with Jamindari system and distribution of lands. Though 65 years have passed, the act has not been implemented in Odisha,” said Jena.
He demanded that the Government implement the act in a limited time period and provide 10 decimals of homestead land and five acres of cultivable land to each landless family in the State.
He demanded that a special session of the State Assembly be convened for holding discussion on the land issues, and a Homestead Land Right Act and Odisha Sharecropper Protection Act be enacted.