In a significant move aimed at overhauling the state's land administration, Bihar's Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Kumar Sinha announced that the government will implement more stringent measures for land reforms. The minister, who also holds the portfolio for Revenue and Land Reforms, made the declaration while releasing a compendium of his department's achievements in Patna on Wednesday.
Strict Monitoring to Reach Block Level
Vijay Kumar Sinha issued a stern warning to officials, stating that monitoring would no longer be confined to the district level but would be intensified and extended down to the block level. He emphasized that the completion of a district visit should not give anyone the illusion that their work is finished. The government, he asserted, is fully capable of taking action against those who fail to improve their performance.
Using a medical analogy, the minister said, "If homeopathy does not work, allopathic treatment would be started to set things right in the department." This indicates a shift towards stricter, more direct intervention to ensure efficiency and accountability at the grassroots level of administration.
Record Progress and Phased Reforms
Sinha highlighted that since he assumed charge, the department has resolved land-related matters, including corrections in land records and mutation cases, at a record-breaking speed. He outlined a phased approach for implementing further reforms, with cases being resolved systematically. "We are gradually implementing reforms," Sinha stated. "If necessary, more stringent measures will also be taken and implemented."
On the occasion, the Deputy CM released a crucial compilation of departmental circulars. This document includes all rules and guidelines issued between 2003 and 2023, compiled into four parts. This compilation is expected to greatly facilitate the work of officials by making rules simpler and more accessible.
Linking PM Kisan with Aadhaar and Future Plans
Sinha shared that the department is currently engaged in vital work to link PM Kisan scheme data with Aadhaar, tag farmers' land, and create unique Farmer IDs. He termed this a "very important campaign for the farmers of the state." To ensure its effective execution, a team of officers from the headquarters has been deputed to the district level to supervise the progress.
The minister provided a tangible metric of success, revealing that the overall number of pending cases in the department has decreased by more than 4,000. A complete progress report detailing the department's achievements will be made public after the festival of Makar Sankranti.
The event was attended by senior officials including Principal Secretary C K Anil, Secretary Gopal Meena, Special Secretary Arun Kumar Singh, Secretary and Consolidation Director Rakesh Kumar, and Land Acquisition Director Kamlesh Kumar Sing.
