Odisha reduces stamp duty on land purchased in name of women

In a bid to empower women, the Odisha government today reduced the stamp duty by one per cent on purchase of land and houses in names of women in the state.
"In a historic decision, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik decided to reduce the rate of stamp duty to four per cent from five per cent on purchase of land and houses in names of women," an official statement issued by the Chief Minister's Office (CMO) said.
Stating that lakhs of women would be benefited from the decision, the release said the stamp duty was being collected by the revenue department during purchase or gift of land and houses. While the rate of stamp duty in the state was generally 7 per cent of the land cost, it had been 5 per cent in case of women. However, after today's decision, the women would have to pay only 4 per cent as stamp duty.

The decision was taken on the basis of the provision of the state government's women and girls policy, 2014, it said.
Claiming that Naveen Patnaik's tenure which started in 2000 as the "golden" period for women, the official statement said that the state government has made provision of 50 per cent reservation for women in three-tier panchayat polls, Biju Kanya Ratna Yojana, Women University, ration cards and Biju Pucca Ghar in names of ladies have helped empower women in the state.
Earlier in 90s, the then Biju Patnaik government had reserved 33 per cent of seats for women in panchayat polls and government service. "The recent decision is a tribute to the legendary leader Biju Patnaik," it said.