Land-for-all scheme to be implemented

KOZHIKODE:  Kerala is set to pursue the dream of becoming a ‘Zero-Landless state’ by providing government land to all the landless people in the state. The scheme would be implemented in Kozhikode and Kasargod districts initially, said Revenue Minister Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan here on Monday.  The Minister also added that application forms from landless people would be accepted from February 1 by the district administrations and consolidated to find out the requirement of land.“The novel venture has a number of hurdles in front of us,” said the Minister. The verification process of the application forms would be started in March and completed in six months time. The district Collector has been given the charge to overlook the process of compiling the data through application forms. Through the programme, the category of migrant farmers who have occupied government land would be given legal validity by providing them the lease papers. Another category of people who do not have any land at all and are financially backward will be allocated land from the land bank of the government. “The reasons for launching the plan in Kozhikode and Kasargod is the availability of land,” added Thiruvanchoor. Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan also said that the village offices in the state are going to become more transparent in their process. He also promised that every village in the state is to get their own village office buildings.Thiruvanchoor Keeps Mum on Vigilance Case Against VSRevenue Minister Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan who is also handling the portfolio of  Vigilance department refused to make any comments on the vigilance case against Opposition Leader VS Achuthandan.“If I would have to comment on the case, it would become my perspective on the issue. There is an inquiry going on at the moment, let it complete. What I can assure you is that nobody will be deliberately hunted,” said the Minister.