Ahead of the proposed homestead bill, in which Jairam Ramesh has sent missives to CMs of more than a dozen states, suggesting them to reduce land ceiling limit so that the land acquired could be used for redistribution among the homeless, the Centre has also asked the states to take steps to give legal assistance to the homeless.
“State governments are requested to prepare a plan for establishing the Land Rights and Legal Assistance Centres. The states should also make an inventory of all lands in all villages to identify the land related problems of the poor,” added the Central advisory.
The Centre government has asked the Andhra Pradesh government to conduct a special survey of coastal area lands to determine the dependence, usage and customary rights of various coastal communities and ensure access and ownership rights, including legal security of tenure, over coastal lands.