Srinagar: In a recent announcement, Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha revealed that over 9,000 landless individuals in the region have been provided with five marlas of land by the government under the “PM Scheme,” emphasizing that “only eligible beneficiaries would receive the land, seeking to dispel of demograohic change.
The move by the LG administration to allocate land to what it describes as "homeless" individuals has drawn skepticism, particularly regarding the figures presented by the administration.
Several political parties have called for greater transparency and clarity regarding the allocation process. Nonetheless, the administration maintains that this initiative is not associated with any demographic changes in the region.
More Read
Previously, the LG administration had stated that there were approximately 2 lakh homeless families in Jammu and Kashmir. However, this figure was challenged by the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) president and former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister, who referred to parliamentary data indicating that there were only 19,000 homeless families in the region.
Moreover, according to the 2011 census data, there were approximately 3,000 homeless families in Jammu and Kashmir, further deepening the confusion surrounding the actual number of landless individuals in the region.
Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of a function at Dak Bunglow, Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha reiterated the government’s commitment to addressing the issue of landlessness in Jammu and Kashmir.
He said that the administration had successfully provided land to over 9,000 landless people, asserting that the selection process was based on strict eligibility criteria under the domicile certification, a new law passed after the abrogation of Article 370 of the Indian constitution.
Under the new law, those who have resided for a period of 15 years in Kashmir or studied for a period of seven years and appeared in Class 10/12 examinations in educational institutions located in the region are now eligible to become permanent residents.
