Over Half of Landless Families in Bihar Wrongly Denied Land, Government Probe Finds

Patna: A sweeping probe into Bihar’s Abhiyan Basera-2 scheme has uncovered systemic irregularities, with more than half of landless applicants being arbitrarily declared ineligible for land allotment. According to a preliminary investigation by the Revenue and Land Reforms Department, nearly 52% of applications have been rejected—many of them wrongfully.

The scheme, aimed at providing five decimal plots to landless families for housing, has so far surveyed over 1.25 lakh households. Yet only 48,000 families have received land under the programme, raising serious concerns about discriminatory practices by local officials.

The findings point to widespread misconduct at the district and block levels. In several cases, eligible families—including those from Musahar, Dalit, and Mahadalit communities—were unjustly excluded despite their severe socio-economic vulnerability. Department officials say the rejection pattern suggests intentional sidelining of marginalised groups.

The mobile app “Abhiyan Basera” is being used to reverify rejected applicants through a digital form titled “Re-verify Rejected Applicant.” Districts have been instructed to deploy non-revenue cadre supervisors for this task to avoid conflict of interest and ensure greater transparency.

Revenue and Land Reforms Secretary Jai Singh conducted a video conference with Additional District Magistrates to review the scheme’s implementation. During the meeting, concerns about the integrity of the process and the conduct of revenue officials were discussed.

In districts where initial reports have been received, several Circle Officers and Revenue Officers have come under scrutiny. Show cause notices have been issued to underperforming blocks, and disciplinary action has already been initiated against more than half a dozen officials.

Further measures—including suspensions, departmental proceedings, and possible criminal charges—may follow after the final investigation report is submitted.

Leaders from the Landless Farmers Association have condemned the revelations, calling the exclusion of the neediest families a “shameful failure of governance.” However, they welcomed the department’s recent steps to address the issue, expressing hope that the most vulnerable would finally receive their rightful entitlements.

The Basera-2 scheme, launched as a flagship initiative to combat rural homelessness, now stands as a litmus test of the government’s resolve to uphold equity and accountability in welfare delivery.