Madhya Pradesh: 20 Months On, Dalits and Adivasis Left Without Land or Residential Plots—Shivraj Singh’s Promise Falls Flat!

Bhopal- On January 4, 2023, then-Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh, Shivraj Singh Chouhan, launched a grand initiative to distribute residential land titles to Dalits, Adivasis, and the landless in the state. This initiative was inaugurated at the Bagaj Mata Temple in Tikamgarh district, where a large program was organized to hand out these titles.

However, 20 months have passed, and the Dalits and Adivasis who were promised land still have not received possession of it, nor have they received their residential plots. Now, these Dalits and Adivasis are running from one official to another, holding the land titles that were distributed by the Chief Minister himself.

In the Gram Panchayat of Keshavgarh in Tikamgarh, 64 people were given land titles by then-Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan personally. In the districts of Tikamgarh and Niwari, 10,000 people were awarded residential land titles, with some of these being distributed directly by the Chief Minister during the event. However, these titles have turned into a source of frustration for many.

According to media reports, a resident of Keshavgarh Gram Panchayat stated that they were handed the title by the Chief Minister on January 4, 2024 but they have yet to receive the land.

The resident mentioned that they had submitted multiple applications to the Mohangarh Tehsildar, Jatara SDM, and the Tikamgarh Collector, requesting action. The land is still under the control of powerful individuals from the village, but despite the passing of 20 months, the administration has failed to remove the encroachment.

Another resident of the village, Devendra, shared a similar story. He said that he went to the Bagaj Mata Temple at the request of district officials, where he was given a residential land title by the then-Chief Minister. However, he still hasn’t received possession of the land. Tikamgarh Collector, Awadhesh Sharma, said that the issue has been brought to his attention and assured that the encroachment will be cleared, and the rightful landholders will be given possession.