In a decisive move to quell long-standing tensions, the BJP government in Odisha has rolled out a comprehensive strategy aimed at resolving the decades-old land rights conflict in the Malkangiri district. This initiative follows violent clashes reported in December between tribal communities and Bengali settlers, underscoring the urgent need for a permanent solution.
Roots of the Conflict and Immediate Triggers
The dispute, often simmering and occasionally erupting into violence, centers on the alienation of tribal land and the rehabilitation of families displaced by major projects. The situation escalated dramatically in late December 2025, when a headless body found in a river sparked clashes between the tribal Rakhelguda village and MV-26 village, inhabited by Bengali settlers.
The violence resulted in hundreds of houses and properties being torched, thousands fleeing their homes, and the imposition of prohibitory orders and an internet shutdown in the area. The head was later found about 40 km away, but the incident had already exposed the deep-seated grievances of the tribal communities.
Government's Multi-Pronged Resolution Plan
The state administration has now outlined a series of concrete measures to address the core issues. A pivotal step is the expedited review of hundreds of pending cases under Regulation 2/56 – the Odisha Scheduled Areas Transfer of Immovable Property (by Scheduled Tribes) Regulation, 1956, which prohibits the transfer of tribal land to non-tribals.
An official stated that the district collector has been directed to review these cases every fortnight on a priority basis. The district administration will also appeal to those who lost land to non-tribals, scrutinizing whether due process was followed during the alienation. The number of such cases is estimated to be close to a thousand.
Furthermore, Deputy Chief Minister KV Singh Deo, after visiting the violence-hit region, announced that expeditious arrangements will be made to provide permanent land titles (pattas) under the Forest Rights Act (FRA) and the Odisha Government Land Settlement Act, 1962. This includes providing permanent pattas to families displaced decades ago by the Machhkund hydroelectric project in the late 1940s and 1950s, a long-pending demand.
Beyond Land: Education, Livelihood, and Rehabilitation
Recognizing that the solution extends beyond land rights, the government has also announced complementary measures. To promote mother-tongue-based education, vacant multilingual teacher posts for Koya, Didayi, and Bonda languages will be filled. Efforts will be made to create more seats in Malkangiri's higher secondary schools to enable tribal students to continue studies beyond Class X.
Following the December clashes, the state also announced financial assistance for damaged houses and shops, ex-gratia for the families of the deceased, improved irrigation facilities, and enhanced livelihood opportunities for tribals in the region.
Malkangiri District Collector Somesh Kumar Upadhyay told The Indian Express that the government's steps would have a significant impact by resolving long-standing grievances. While local tribal leader Bandhu Muduli appreciated the measures, he called for a probe into how settlers acquired more land than was originally allotted and for the return of land obtained through fraudulent means.
The Odisha government's plan, combining legal review, land rights enforcement, and socio-economic development, represents a concerted attempt to build lasting peace in the troubled district of Malkangiri.
