MLC introduces bill to protect farmers in land acquisition

The Legislative Council on Friday saw BJP member, C H Vijayashankar, moving a bill to amend the Karnataka Land Revenue Act, 1964. The party’s another MLC, Tara Anuradha, moved a private resolution seeking reservation in jobs for transgenders in public and private sectors.

Vijayashankar suggested that the House amend section 95 of the Act in order to protect farm land from being used for non-agricultural purpose. He said farmers’ voice was being oppressed in land acquisition. “Unlike in the US, we do not have any voice of farmers when it comes to land acquisition. In the US, farm land acquisition is subject to clearance by the Agriculture Board.

“While farmers account for just seven per cent of that country’s population, 70 per cent of people in India are dependent on agriculture. It’s a shame we cannot even protect our indigenous products like the Nanjangud banana plantations,” he said.

Responding to the private bill, Revenue Minister V Srinivas Prasad said the government’s hands were tied by the new ordinance issued by the Centre for land acquisition. “The Land Acquisition Act passed by the UPA government mandated a social impact study before agriculture land is acquired. But these norms have been relaxed for at least six major sectors such as defence,” he said.

Prasad said the government had kept nearly 2.5 lakh hectares of land acquisition pending on account of older norms that mandate the social impact study.

Quota for transgenders

Anuradha moved a resolution seeking reservation in jobs for transgenders in public and private sectors. Even as members lauded her move, she said the House should pass the resolution and ensure the transgenders get equal status in the society. “Mangalmukhis (transgenders) are considered an omen of good luck at any function but treated like untouchables. We should consider them neither as boon nor bane, but as human beings,” she said.