Shimla, Providing opportunities for land utilisation and activities like horticulture is crucial to curbing migration from Himachal Pradesh’s tribal areas and economically empowering the youth, Tribal Development and Revenue Minister Jagat Singh Negi said on Thursday.
Land reform laws in Himachal prohibit non-agriculturists from acquiring land. Negi has urged successive Governors to approve the allotment of Nautor forest land to eligible residents of tribal areas. Nautor land is barren government land given to landless individuals for cultivation under specific rules. Negi pointed out that employment opportunities in tribal areas are limited, and competition for government jobs is constantly rising. As part of this effort, an ‘Adhikar Yatra’ is being organised. Starting from Kinnaur, it will reach high-altitude villages in Spiti and Lahaul.
Under the Nautor land policy, eligible families can be allotted up to 20 bighas of land. He said soon after assuming office in 2023, the state government requested an exemption from the provisions of the Forest Conservation Act, 1980, for Nautor land allotment in tribal areas.
Keeping this in mind, the state government has sought the Governor’s permission for necessary amendments to the laws governing tribal areas, yet the matter has remained pending for nearly three years, the minister said. In this context, it is essential to engage the youth in horticulture and other local economic activities, he said He said people in tribal areas have been agitating over this long-pending issue. He said the march is raising awareness of people’s constitutional rights and mobilising them for the movement. The minister said the yatra might eventually lead to a gherao of the Raj Bhavan. He said he would make a fresh appeal to the Governor on behalf of the people of the tribal areas regarding the pending issues. Negi said both the government and the public would continue their fight for the rights granted to the people of tribal areas under the Constitution.
