As India was fighting on the China front, to avoid any action from western border, in 1960s, Prime minister of India Sh. Lal Bahadur Shashtri had asked Sikh farmers to settle in the rann of Kutch and develop the residential colonies in this region.
Also, Sh. Lal Bahadur Shashtri had allocated the small patches of land in Kutch, so that these families can cultivate the land and development can be started.
Many families from Punjab had moved to Kutch with lot of expectations. After the migration, these families mixed with the regional culture and with Kutchi people.
At that time, Kutch was barren land. In this barren land, Sikh farmers have started cultivating different types of grains. Though this job was difficult, these farmers with their hard work successfully cultivated the grains in this land and part of the Kutch was become lushness.
With the time, realtions of Kutchis and Sikhs became stronger. Many inter cast marriages were accepted.
Two years ago, as farmland prices shot up, the State government barred them from either selling, or taking loan or subsidy on their land under the Bombay Tenancy and Agricultural Lands Act, 1958. It also stopped issuing certified copies of land records. The farmers challenged the order in the Gujarat High Court and decision was in the favour of State government. However, Sikh community had filled an appeal in the High Court and won the decision. Against which, the State government filed an appeal in the Apex Court against the order.
On this decision, future of approx. 700 families is dependent.
If the ground survey will be considered, fact is different from the statement of the State government. Most of the Kutchi people are ready to help these people. We hope that Apex Court take the decision after review the ground report.
NDTV India has made a documentary on this issue.
Documentary can be viewed on below link:
Watch thisDocumentary
No comments:
Post a Comment