New Delhi: The population of scheduled
castes (SCs) and scheduled tribes (STs) holds only 19.1 per
cent of the total agricultural land in the country, Parliament
was informed on Tuesday.
SCs hold 8.4 per cent of the total operated area,
while the percentage of STs is 10.7 per cent. The rest 80.9
per cent is owned by others, Minister of State for Agriculture
K V Thomas said in a written reply in the Lok Sabha.
SCs/STs form over 24 per cent of the population, with
SC being at over 16 per cent and ST at over 7.50 per cent, as
per the 2001 Census.
As per the latest Agricultural Census 2005-06, SCs
hold 1,33,00,401 hectares and STs 1,69,29,480 hectares.
On reasons for lesser percentage of land held by the
SCs/STs, Thomas said land and its management are in the state
list.
On steps to bring SCs/STs at par with others in terms
of land holding, the minister said the Union government has
been requesting the state and Union Territory administrations
from time to time for distribution of surplus land to eligible
rural poor.
As on June 30 this year, an area of 50.20 lakh acres
has been distributed to 56.57 lakh beneficiaries.
Of the 50.20 lakh acres, 18.61 lakh acres were
distributed to SCs. 8.64 lakh STs received 7.91 lakh acres.
-PTI
First Published: Tuesday, November 23, 2010, 22:02