LAHORE: The Chief Minister, Maryam Nawaz, held a computerized draw in Lahore on Saturday where 121,000 acres of cultivable government land were distributed to 30,000 needy and deserving families in Punjab. It is considered one of the biggest land distributions in the recent history of the province.
According to the Punjab Apna Khet Apna Rozgar project, each family receives four acres of farming land on an annual rent of only Rs. 100, while they are also provided Rs. 200,000 for starting their agricultural activities. The project was started on April 22 and received applications from 60,000 individuals, twice the number of allocations.
The Rs100 per annum for the lease is not a typing mistake. This is an intentional policy decision in which a nominal amount is used to create a legal arrangement of leasing without creating any financial obstacle for a landless household to four acres of farmland.
Women Applicants Make It Big
The aspect that is quite important concerning the Punjab Apna Khet Apna Rozgar program is the extent to which it engaged female applicants. Out of 60,000 total applications that were made, 11,000 applications were made by women, which is close to one out of every five applications that were made. The extent to which female applicants have participated in a formal land allocation program in agriculture is unmatched in recent history in Punjab.
Not Even Any Recommendation; Not Even Any Political Interference
CM Maryam Nawaz talked about the legitimacy of the procedure at the event itself.
“The deserving families were allotted land based on merit, and neither any recommendation nor political pressure was entertained in this regard.”
CM Maryam Nawaz
The computerized lottery system ensures the legitimacy of the process by eliminating political influence because there will be no discretionary power left when the machine pulls the lots from a verified database.
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Vision of the Plan
Punjab Apna Khet Apna Rozgar plan is based on three interrelated goals that were mentioned by CM Maryam Nawaz in her speech:
- Economic independence for those farmers who have neither lands nor any other property and are working in agriculture with low wages
- Increased output due to conversion of 121,000 acres of cultivated government lands that are lying unutilized to the productive lands where these lands will be cultivated by farmers themselves
- Rehabilitation of self-respect of farmers who Maryam Nawaz considered as those worthy of respect and help
The Rs200,000 financial aid fills the gap created by the mere possession of land. If there is a landless farmer who has been provided with four acres of land but he does not have any money to purchase seeds or make the land fertile, then he will not get benefit from his land.
Further Land in Phases to Come
Punjab Apna Khet Apna Rozgar is far from ending here. It was assured by the Punjab chief minister that any government land left unused anywhere in the province will be allotted to the deserving citizens in coming phases.
This has been determined from the fact that 60,000 applications were received for only 30,000 land allotments. There are 30,000 people whose applications have been rejected. They become a social and political responsibility for future phases.
Nayab Fatima is a media professional specializing in fact-based journalism, research, and analytical reporting on technology, telecom, aviation, and automobiles.
