Orissa plans to introduce 'mutation manual'

With an aim to streamline the service delivery system, especially pertaining to revenue administration, at the grass root level, the Orissa government is mulling to introduce a ‘mutation manual’. The state revenue and disaster management department would prepare the manual in the next 2-3 months.

For this purpose, the secretaries visiting the districts have been asked to review the progress of the land pass book scheme during their visit. They have been asked to give their opinion on improving the service delivery mechanism after observing its working at different places in the state.

Meanwhile, a secretary level meeting was held in Bhubaneswar to discuss the issue under the chairmanship of chief secretary Tarunkanti Mishra.

Sources said, the government is attaching much importance to the implementation of the land pass book scheme.

It has framed Orissa Land Pass Book Rules, 2006 under which land pass books are issued to the families living below the poverty line (BPL) free of cost.

However, the non-BPL families are required to pay Rs 20 per every pass book. The land pass book would remain valid for a period of 3 years or till the same is reviewed by the competent authority. The government is exploring the possibility of using the land pass book as an authoritative document for caste certificate, income certificate, residential certificate, legal heir certificate for limited purposes and identification of farmers among others.

Mishra is reported to have asked the secretaries to give opinion on the time based delegation of power as this would relieve the secretaries of routine works.