Special commission to identify Panchami lands soon: Minister
The Tamil Nadu government plans to establish a special commission to identify and protect remaining Panchami lands, which were originally allocated to tribal communities. Social Justice Minister Vanni Arasu noted that only a fraction of the original 12 lakh acres remains, and previous committees have failed to secure these lands.
Why it matters
The recovery of Panchami lands is a significant social justice issue concerning land rights for marginalized communities in Tamil Nadu.
The Tamil Nadu government will soon constitute a special commission to identify Panchami lands across the State, Social Justice Minister Vanni Arasu told the Assembly on Monday.
Responding to CPI MLA K. Marimuthu’s demand for a separate board to recover the lands, during the debate on the Demands for Grants, the Minister said the proposed commission would be more effective than the panels previously constituted to identify and protect Panchami lands.
Mr. Vanni Arasu said the issue dates back to 1891, when the then Chengalpattu Collector identified the lands and wrote to the Queen of England.
Subsequently, two government orders were issued, allocating around 12 lakh acres of wasteland exclusively for tribal communities, he said.
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