Land for landless; Pattayam mission to start on 19th

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Pattayam Mission launched by the government to convert all the landless in the state into landowners will begin on May 19. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan will inaugurate the project at 11 am in Kottayam. The aim is to find and distribute land to the landless. Preference will be given to those belonging to hilly areas, Scheduled Tribes and Colony Residents.

There are 1298 surplus land cases pending in 77 Taluk Land Boards in respect of excess land holdings. Taluk Boards are divided into four zones with Deputy Collectors appointed as Chairman of each. They are responsible for the timely disposal of pending cases. More than 23,000 acres of land can be acquired and distributed when the cases are settled. 16,231 families residing in 1015 colonies are also to get pattayam. Their details will be collected with the help of MLAs and other people's representatives. The land revenue records of many of the colonies where local bodies bought land and gave houses are still in the name of the previous owner. Steps will also be taken through the Pattayam Mission to reserve such lands to the government and issue pattayam.

Pattayam distribution exceeded the target

The revenue department has made greater progress than expected in pattayam distribution. The target was to distribute 40,000 pattayams in the second year of the second Pinarayi government. Whereas pattayams distributed by May 20 are 67,069. Palakkad district is leading with 17,879. Close behind is Malappuram with 12,000. 54,535 pattayams were distributed in the first year.

Pattayam issued by 1st Pinarayi government in 5 years: 1,77,011
Issued by the second Pinarayi government in two years: 1,21,604