LAND TITLE FOR NOMADS: MODI'S MESSAGE OF INCLUSION

WHEN 52000 FAMILIES OF THE NOMADIC LAMBANI BANJARA) TRIBE IN KARNATAKA RECEIVED LAND TITLE DEEDS HAKKU PATRA) FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER, IT WAS A LIFETIME DREAM COME TRUE. THE PRIME MINISTER’S PRESENCE ON THE OCCASION ALSO SENT OUT A LOUD AND CLEAR MESSAGE TO MARGINALISED SECTIONS A POLITICAL MASTERSTROKE FOR THE BJP, IN KARNATAKA AND BEYOND

- S A HEMANTH

It was a life-changing moment for over 52,000 families of the nomadic Lambani (Banjara) tribe of Karnataka when Prime Minister Narendra Modi initiated the process of giving them Hakku Patra (title deeds) for the land they have been living on for decades. For the Lambani community, it was a matter of survival with “self-respect, dignity and honour”, which was denied to them till now.

In terms of BJP's electoral prospects, the Karnataka Government's 'historic and revolutionary' decision to distribute title deeds to thousands of Lambanis is regarded as a game-changer. The Lambani tribe has a strong presence in five districts in northern Karnataka. Assembly elections are due in the State in April-May this year. According to official statistics, there are around 29 lakh nomads in Karnataka.

“All our lifetime, we lived in the tandas, what is called as Lambani tandas. We never had a Record of Rights and Title Deeds. We were denied government benefits. So much so, the banks refused to give us loans as the land was not in our name. Now that we have been given the title deed, we can approach banks and obtain loan," said Neerja Nayak, a 35-year-old lady, who has passed PUC but works in the field to take care of her three children.

GAME-CHANGER