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Andhra Pradesh
Pattas issued to tribals
Minister K. Parthasarothy hands over patta passbooks for forest lands to tribal women at a programme in Nuzvid in Krishna district on Monday. MLA Chinnam Ramakotaiah (right) and MLCs Paladugu Venkata Rao and Jelli Wilson are also seen.
NUZVID: The tribals of Krishna district secured pattas for the lands on which they could do cultivation in their villages at a programme organised here on Monday, as part of an initiative taken by the State government.
Animal Husbandry, Dairy Development and Fisheries Minister K. Parthasarothy distributed pattas to about 869 beneficiaries. With the issuance of pattas, tribals could claim rights over more than 1,479 acre of forest land in the district.
The title deeds were issued under the provisions of the Forest Dwelling STs and Other Forest Dwellers Act, 2006, which is also known as the Recognition of Forest Right Act, 2006.
On the occasion, the Minister said that the tribals could get rid of the fear of displacement because of the rights deeds distributed to them. Though the Act allowed issuance of pattas to non-tribals like the SCs and backward classes who were dependent on forests, there was a glitch. They would have to produce a certificate confirming that the land was in their possession for the past 75 years. “It may not be possible or it would be a Herculean task for them as the records would not be available,” Mr. Parthasarothy said, adding: “I would take up the matter with the government.”
Alleging that the forest and revenue officials were known for harassing tribals, Eluru MP Kavuri Sambasiva Rao cautioned them against doing anything like that for issuing the certificates, lest they would face the wrath of the people.
The Minister and the MP thanked UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh for taking the historic decision. Andhra Pradesh was the first State to implement the Act and issue pattas to tribals, they pointed out, adding that the conferring of title deeds would help the beneficiaries to raise money for development of land, besides giving them a sense of security.
From Alluri Sitaramaraju, who fought against the British, the tribals had been fighting to establish their rights over forest lands, MLC Jelli Wilson recalled. The speakers said that the pattas would confer rights on tribals for “cultivating land for their bona fide livelihood needs” and they would enjoy no other rights like sale. The Act came into force on December 31, 2007, and the cut-off date for claiming right under the Act was December 2005. It would mean that all tribals who were in possession of land before December 2005 would be eligible to get the rights deed pattas, they said.
The Andhra Pradesh High Court permitted the State government to issue title deeds (pattas) for four lakh acres of forest land to eligible forest dwelling STs and other traditional forest dwellers under 2006 Act, they said.
MLC Paladugu Venkat Rao, local MLA Chinnam Ramakotaiah, former MLA Meka Venkata Pratapa Appa Rao, District Forest Officer Md. Thayyab and others spoke. District Collector N. Sridhar, who was transferred was conspicuously absent.
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