Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government has launched a time-bound exercise to preserve historical records of Bhoodan and Gramdan lands, reconcile them with existing Records of Rights (RoR) and address long-pending administrative and legal issues concerning such properties.
The Revenue and Disaster Management Department has operationalised the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP)-2026 for creating an authentic, searchable and comprehensive digital database of Bhoodan and Gramdan lands across the state. Additional Chief Secretary of the department Dr Arabinda Kumar Padhee has issued directions to all Revenue Divisional Commissioners (RDCs), the Secretary of the Board of Revenue and district Collectors for implementation of the exercise.
The Bhoodan movement, inspired by Mahatma Gandhi’s ideals and led by Acharya Vinoba Bhave, sought voluntary donation and equitable distribution of land among landless families. In Odisha, substantial tracts were received by the Bhoodan Yagna Samiti, a large portion of which was subsequently distributed among landless beneficiaries. However, some land remains undistributed, while mutation of several legally allotted parcels has not been reflected in the RoR, creating difficulties for beneficiaries.
The department said the absence of consolidated and authenticated records in several areas has also resulted in administrative and legal complications. The proposed digital repository is intended to reconcile historical records with the existing Bhulekh database, identify discrepancies and locate unused Bhoodan land that can potentially be secured for eligible landless beneficiaries. The Revenue Department is already implementing measures under the Vasundhara scheme to provide land to eligible landless families.
The exercise also assumes significance amid reports of unauthorised commercial occupation and illegal transfer of Bhoodan land at some places despite statutory restrictions on its transfer. Re-verification and reconciliation of records will therefore be undertaken to safeguard the rights of genuine beneficiaries and ensure adherence to applicable legal provisions.
As part of the mission, Collectors have been asked to earmark dedicated office space and secure record-storage facilities within Collectorate premises for local committees of the Bhoodan Yagna Samiti. The historical records will be formally handed over to the administration through authorised officers before digitisation begins.
The Odisha Bhoodan Yagna Samiti (OBYS) has been entrusted with digitising primary historical and legal records placed in secure administrative custody. The National Informatics Centre (NIC) will develop a dedicated online portal integrated with the Land Records Management System (LRMS) and create the central database, with relevant information from Bhulekh made accessible through the system.
Tahasildars will be the principal implementing officers at the field level. They will reconcile Bhoodan registers and digitised records with the Bhulekh database and prepare Bhoodan Parcel Registers. Sub-Collectors will monitor implementation at the tahasil level, while Collectors will oversee and coordinate the exercise across their respective districts. RDCs have been directed to review progress at least once every month.
Pending completion of the digital database, registration and mutation of Bhoodan land have been prohibited until further orders. Revenue authorities have been instructed to strictly follow the SOP and ensure accuracy and authenticity of the records.
The department said the initiative is aimed at preserving the historical record of Bhoodan land, establishing a reliable digital repository, protecting the interests of genuine beneficiaries and curbing irregularities through a coordinated land-record management system.
