Jharkhand

• 12 Nov 2022

Khatian Based Local Policy and OBC Reservation Bill Passed

Why In News?

• On November 11, 2022, in a special session of the Jharkhand Assembly, the state government passed the Khatiyan-based Local Policy and OBC Reservation Bill of 1932 by voice vote.

Key Points

• Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren introduced the Bill-2022 to extend the definition of local persons and the consequent social, cultural and other benefits to such local persons. There were many amendments in it from the opposition side, there was also a proposal to send it to the select committee, but the government refused it by voice vote.
• According to this bill, those people will be called local or native residents of Jharkhand, whose name or whose ancestors are mentioned in the Khatian of 1932 or earlier.
• Those whose names will not be registered in the Khatian or whose Khatian has been lost or destroyed, such people will be verified by the Gram Sabha whether they are the original residents of Jharkhand or not. In the case of landless persons, the local person will be identified by the Gram Sabha based on culture, local custom, tradition etc.
• During the assembly session, the Chief Minister added the third and fourth grade jobs in the bill to the local policy of planning and said that only those who will have Khatian of 1932 will be eligible for third and fourth grade jobs.
• The locality based on Khatian of 1932 will be extended to the whole of Jharkhand. This Act will come into force after its inclusion in the 9th Schedule of the Constitution of India.
• Local persons shall mean domicile of Jharkhand, who is an Indian citizen and is within the territorial and geographical limits of Jharkhand and the name of his or her ancestors is recorded in the survey/khatian of 1932 or earlier.
• Local persons as defined under this Act shall be entitled to social security, social insurance and all schemes and policies of the State in respect of employment/unemployment and shall enjoy privileges and protection on their land, employment or agricultural loans/loans etc.
• Local persons as defined under the Act will also be entitled to maintain their land records on priority, as may be prescribed and regulated under the rule.
• Local persons as defined under the Act shall also be entitled to preferential rights over local commercial cultural undertakings and local lakes/rivers/fisheries for trade and commerce in the State, especially those relating to traditional and cultural undertakings.
• Apart from this, the OBC reservation bill was also passed in the assembly. There will now be 77 per cent reservation in the state. Backward Classes (OBC) will get 27 per cent reservation, Scheduled Tribes (ST) 28 per cent and Scheduled Castes (SC) 12 percent.