Odisha backtracks on transfer of tribal land to non-tribals amid uproar

• The Odisha government has paused its plans to amend a 67-year-old regulation, stirring controversy over the sale of tribal lands to non-tribals.

Key points

Tribal Demographics and Political Impact

• Tribals constitute over 22% of Odisha's population.
• The state has 32 reserved Assembly seats and 5 Lok Sabha seats for Scheduled Tribes.

Details of Proposed Amendment

• The amendment aimed to permit Scheduled Tribes to transfer their immovable properties to non-tribals with a written order from a sub-collector.
• It also allowed tribal land to be mortgaged to public financial institutions for non-agricultural purposes.

Past Protests and Sensitivity

• Odisha has a history of protests against tribal land acquisition, industrialization, and mining.
• Withdrawal may be a precautionary measure to avoid triggering protests among tribal communities, considering the state's history of tribal movements.

Prelims Takeaway

• Map based question