Deception of tribals at Odisha border: Thousands acres of land usurped by Andhra doctors, people getting Rs 4000-6000 per acre per year.

Badal Tah,Odishabarta

Rayagada, April 29: Deception of tribals is taking place in Gunupur border. Thousands acres of land of local tribals and other poor people are now in the hands of a doctor from neighbouring Andhra Pradesh. Dr. D. Rammohan Rao, a doctor from newly formed district Parbatipuram, has been holding those lands under the name of palmolein cultivation for more than 20-25 years. While he is earning crores of rupees from palmolein seeds, poor people are getting pittance. This doctor has been defrauding the tribals by paying 4 to 6 thousand rupees of lease money per annum for years. Taking the advantage of tribals’ simplicity, he comes once a year and take lease agreements from the tribal people in the temple.

The story of the tribals on the border of Rayagada and Andhra Pradesh is precarious. A group of doctors across the border is eyeing with greed at the tribal land. Dr. D. Rammohan Rao has taken the lead in this nexus. Rayagada district is conducive for palmolein cultivation. The Doctors’ group has been exploiting the tribals of this district for years by keeping the land of the farmers in their possession for 17 to 25 years. There is neither proper documentation nor the lease deed registered in local govt revenue office. In the name of the lease agreement, the signatures/thump impressions of the people are being put. Tribal lands of villages namely Jagannathpur, Machhakhunti, Valeri, Subhadrapur, etc. of Gunpur sub-division have been planted and plundered for 23/24 years.

Mr. Angad Sabar, a tribal farmer of Jagannathpur village, has alleged that his father-in-law’s land has been leased out to Rao for the last 17 years. Palmolein trees were planted in his 2 acres of land. Angad said that while Rao pays Rs 3,000 per acre during initial years, he pays only Rs 6,000 for that after 17 years. Even after repeatedly asking for the land, the concerned doctor is not returning in the plea of a 25-year contract. Angad, a tribal youth & a vegetable cultivator, who has given away his land to Rao, is now cultivating other people’s land on lease and making a living from it. Similarly, Rao has been occupying the land of Nimal Shukru, a tribal farmer of the village for last 17 years. He comes every year and sits in the temple pavilion and makes agreements for the next year.

Pradeep Gouda, an auto driver, of Jagannathpur village has given his 7 acres of land on lease to Rao for last 17 years. Even after requesting him to give up at least one acre to sell at higher price, Rao refused by saying that he will give up the land if Rs 20 lakh is given back to him.  Plantation has been done on 2000 acres of land in Machhakhunti village beside Vansadhara river. Fresh Fruit Bunch(FBB) is reaped from the plantation four times a year. Mr. Mahesh Huika of Machakhunti village said that after harvest, one gets around Rs.20000 per year per tree. He said that about 15 to 27 lakh rupees are obtained from one acre per year. Reliable source mentions that Rao has done plantation for years after taking possession of some government land.

Under the Odisha Scheduled Areas Transfer of Immovable Property (OSATIP) Act, there are government restrictions on non-tribals buying or taking lease of tribal land. A tribal can mortgage his agricultural land in the bank only for agricultural loan. Senior lawyer Shri Labanya Mohan Patnaik has said that it is against the law to take lease of tribal land for any other reason. But by openly flouting the law and acting illegally, Rao has kept thousands acres of tribal land under his control and is on the verge of usurping through benami transaction. Rao is making profit of billions of rupees. But the land owners are toiling for two square meals. The lease agreement is neither with the farmers nor done by any regulatory authority. Public dissatisfaction with Rao’s actions is increasing.

“This incident did not come to my attention. However, it will be informed to the Sub-Collector and appropriate action will be taken”, said Mrs. Shantiprabha Pradhan, PA, ITDA, Gunupur. When informed about this to Rayagada MLA Makarand Muduli, he said that land agitation like Narayanapatna should not be repeated here. “Such lease agreements are not at all legal. This is very worrying. I will inform the District Magistrate and advise for legal action and if necessary, I will raise questions in the Assembly and attract the government’s attention”, said Muduli.

Dr. Rao also was involved in a similar process in the neighbouring Koraput District’s Bandhugaon Block. Local Tahsildar put up a red flag on the said government land against Rao. However, the question arises as to how such exploitation is happening here on tribals in broad day light and whether the Rayagada district administration is aware of it or not, it has become a matter of irony.