Dalits irked over cancellation of land auctions

Sushil Goyal

Tribune News Service

Sangrur, May 29

The authorities have been cancelling auctions of panchayat lands reserved for Scheduled Castes for agricultural purpose on lease time and again in some villages due to low rates being pitched by community members.

Auctions were cancelled by the authorities in Namol village (Sunam) on May 27 for the second time and Kherri Kalan village (Sherpur) on May 28 for the fifth time. Even today’s auction of reserved land was cancelled for the third time at Dhandiwal Kalan village (Sherpur) as the Dalits offered low rates as compared to those offered last year.

The auction of reserved land in Namol was cancelled this time as Dalits wanted nine-and-half acres of the land on lease at a rate of Rs 1.70 lakh even as the land was auctioned for Rs 3.62 lakh last year.

Officials have cancelled auctions, expressing their “inability” to give land on lease at rates lower than last year’s.

This has irked the Dalit community. Members the Zamin Prapati Sanghrash Committee and the Krantikari Pendu Mazdoor Union have been agitating to show their resentment. They said the process of auctions had not been completed in at least 15 villages so far. Besides low rates, they have also been opposing the participation of “dummy” Dalit farmers in the auctions.

The district convener of Zameen Prapti Sanghrash Committee, Mukesh Malaud, said land should be given at lower rates to Dalits as it was difficult for them to afford higher rates. He said they had been agitating in 13 villages, namely Balad Kalan, Alloarkh, Bharro, Kandhargarh Chhanna, Jhanerri, Ghabdan, Nadampur, Kular Khurd, Badrukhan, Dhandiwal Kalan, Baopur, Gharachon and Kherri Kalan. Besides, Dalits of Namol and Mirza Patti Namol villages have been agitating under the banner of Krantikari Pendu Mazdoor Union.

Except Balad Kalan village (where auction is yet to be held), officials in remaining villages reportedly cancelled auctions of reserved lands one or more times saying that the fulfillment of the demands of the agitating Dalits was not in their hands.

“Any decision in this regard can be taken by the state government,” said District Development and Panchayat Officer Joginder Kumar.