KalingaTV News Network
Berhampur: In a first of its kind in the world, Odisha government distributed pattas (land certificates) to urban slum dwellers at Chhatrapur Stadium in Ganjam district on Monday.
Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik distributed the land certificates to 2,000 slum dwellers living in 8 notified area councils (NACs) of Ganjam district and one NAC of Puri district while attending the state-level land rights distribution ceremony.
Patnaik also unveiled the Odisha Liveable Habitat Mission. As many as 10 lakh people residing in 2,500 slums of the state will be benefited under the scheme. They will get their land rights within one year.
Addressing the gathering, the CM said, “Today, Odisha has created a history and emerged as a model state for others in according land rights to urban slum dwellers. Keeping in view the interests of poor slum dwellers, I have taken such a decision. This will empower the poor and help them lead a dignified life.”
Tata Trusts Chairman Ratan Tata who also attended the ceremony said, “Odisha is undertaking a earthshaking initiative of giving entitlements to over one million slum dwellers, who live in uncertainty. I welcome such historic step of Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik and his government for this very far reaching important scheme.”
“I wish the CM and Government of Odisha all best success in making the memorable scheme a reality,” he added.
Odisha Urban Development Niranjan Pujari, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Bikram Keshari Arukha, Food Supplies and Consumer Welfare Minister Surya Narayan Patro, Norman Foster Foundation President Lord Norman Foster, Managing Director of Omidyar Network India Advisors Roopa Kudva, Senior Consultant at Indian Institute for Human Settlement (IIHS) Dr. Gautam Bhan and other dignitaries attended the land rights distribution ceremony.
The Slum Dwellers Bill, 2017 was passed in State Assembly on September 14, 2017.
Ms Kalinga