New Delhi: Dr Arvind Panagariya, Vice Chairman, NITI Aayog inaugurated oneday National Workshop on Status of Land Leasing Reform and Way Forward on 18th April, 2017 at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi. Principal Secretaries (Revenue) from the States and their counterparts from the Department of Agriculture or their representatives participated in the meeting.
Vice Chairman in his inaugural address invited the States to play a pro-active role in enacting reforms relating to state subjects, especially land leasing. He also recalled the pro-reform views of various States in the meeting held in the past which led the NITI Aayog to begin working on the Model Agricultural Land Leasing Act, 2016.
Several States shared their initiatives related to land leasing reforms. The prominent were Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Odisha and Uttarakhand. It was noted that Madhya Pradesh Legislative Assembly had already passed a Bill on “The Madhya Pradesh BHUMISWAMI EVAM BATAIDAR KE HITON KA SANRAKSHAN VIDHEYAK, 2016” which is currently with the President for his assent. Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand have amended the restrictive provisions of the land tenancy act to facilitate land leasing by all landholders for agricultural activities. The State of Odisha has also prepared the draft bill on agricultural land leasing which is under active review by the law department of the Government of Odisha.
The States appreciated the efforts by the NITI Aayog. Member (Agriculture) Prof Ramesh Chand and Dr. T. Haque and Dr J P Mishra, Adviser (Agriculture), NITI Aayog also participated actively and offered their perspectives in the National Workshop.
