Over 11,200 farmers in Punjab, who have been holding over 4,000 acres of land for generations but had no title rights, will get ownership after paying appropriate compensation, as President Draupadi Murmu has given her assent to a law to this effect, officials said on Thursday.
The Punjab Bhondedar, Butemar, Dohlidar, Insar Miadi, Mukarraridar, Mundhimar, Panahi Qadeem, Saunjidar, or Taraddadkar (Vesting of Proprietary Rights) Bill, 2020, was passed by the Punjab Assembly in 2020 when the Congress government led by Amarinder Singh was in power. “The President gave her assent to the bill passed by the Punjab Assembly,” an official said.
The move grants property rights to over 11,200 tenants occupying over 4,000 acres of land after they pay appropriate compensation. The official said it is expected that the law will empower the tillers of such land, who mostly belong to the economically and socially weaker sections of society.
These tenants hold small pieces of land for many years and inherit their rights from generation to generation. However, since they were not registered owners, they neither have access to financial institutions for loans nor relief for any natural calamity. Now they will get all the benefits like other landowners.
This law shall apply to the occupiers of land whose names or those of their predecessors in interest have been recorded as Bhondedar, Butemar, Dohlidar, Insar Miadi, Mukarraridar, Mundhimar, Panahi Qadeem, Saunjidar, or Taraddadkar for a term of not less than 20 years as on the appointed day.
“A class of occupancy tenants has already been vested with proprietary rights. However, such rights are vested in a certain class of tenants, such as Bhondayar, Butemar, Dohalidar, Insar Miadi, Mukarridar, Mundhimar, Panahi Qadim, Saunjidar, or Taradadkar. The Act is a measure of agrarian reform to provide proprietary rights to a class of such cultivators and provides for the payment of compensation to landowners whose rights in their land will be lost. This measure will also encourage investment in agriculture and promote its productivity,” according to the statement of purposes and reasons for the legislation.
