The administration of Jammu and Kashmir has granted approval for the allocation of land on a lease basis to individuals without land, stipulating that only domiciles of the Union Territory are eligible for the scheme.

Jammu and Kashmir's Lieutenant Governor, Manoj Sinha, initiated the land to landless scheme in July, although its implementation raised questions from political parties in the region. They sought clarification on the beneficiaries' criteria.

The Revenue Department has issued a comprehensive set of guidelines, outlining the allocation of five Marla of state land on a lease basis to eligible beneficiaries under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (Gramin)/Awas plus scheme. The scheme encompasses individuals from the Rural Development Department's permanent waiting list of 2018-19. This includes people residing on various categories of land, such as state land, forest land, 'rakhs,' and farms, as well as those in possession of custodian land.

Moreover, individuals residing on land near Dachigam Park, previously allotted by the government for agricultural purposes where construction is prohibited, are also considered. The order clarifies that the scheme is open to "any other category of cases who are otherwise eligible for housing under PMAY-G but don't have any land available for construction."

According to the order, an individual is deemed landless if they are a domicile of Jammu and Kashmir, belong to a distinct family, do not hold land in their name or in the name of any family member, and are not entitled to inherit five marla or more of land. The lease of land will be granted under the provisions of the Jammu and Kashmir Land Grants Act of 1960 and its associated rules.

The beneficiaries will be required to pay a token sum of Rs 100 per marla as a one-time premium, along with a nominal fee of Rs 1 per marla per annum as ground rent. The lease term is set at 40 years, with the possibility of extension for another 40 years upon meeting all prerequisites.

However, the order specifies that if a beneficiary fails to construct a house on the allocated land within two years, the lease will be promptly revoked. The assistant commissioner (development) of the Rural Development Department in the respective district will evaluate each case and present a comprehensive profile of the beneficiaries to the deputy commissioner for further action.

Image source: Indian Express