In a historic first, forest dwellers get land deeds in Chhattisgarh

The Chhattisgarh government has succeeded where Akbar, the Mughal emperor from 1556 to 1605, had failed.

The state government has surveyed and allotted “masahati pattas” (land ownership deeds) to inhabitants in the densely forested pocket of the Bastar region.

The emperor, despite the assistance of his able finance minister, Todarmal, had failed to compile revenue records in this area.

The development will facilitate villagers in getting benefits of welfare schemes of the Central and state governments.

A masahati study is a kind of land revenue survey. Under the system, the administration determines the landholdings of villagers through their gram sabhas