The Odisha government, which has revised the annual income ceiling from Rs. 24,000 to Rs. 40,000 for definition of homestead-less families, has started the process of enumerating the number of persons, who do not have land for constructing houses.
With the increase in annual income ceiling, it is expected that more families would be eligible for allotment of land for homestead land in rural areas.
“As the State government attaches high priority to shelter, it is imperative to go for further survey to identify the total number of homestead-less families in rural areas who would be eligible for allotment of homestead land.
The survey should be taken up through the tehsildars and completed by August 10,” Revenue and Disaster Management department directed issuing a notification
“The tehsildars and sub-collectors will be responsible to do verification of the eligibility in 100 per cent cases. The additional district magistrate will test check the survey work. Collectors may do some test check in a few cases,” the notification says.
Along with the survey and enumeration of eligible homestead-less families, a survey may also be undertaken to identify leasable and non-objectionable government and for settlement for homestead purpose, it maintains.
According to the notification, subject to availability of leasable and non-objectionable government land, eligible homestead-less families will be provided up to maximum 10 decimals in rural areas under the relevant provisions of Odisha Government Land Settlement Rules, 1983 and Odisha Prevention of Land Encroachment Act, 1972.
The department has set a deadline of October 31 to complete the exercise.
Annual income ceiling has been increased from Rs. 24,000 to Rs. 40,000.
Prasanta Patnaik 
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