Click to play videoNew Delhi: Union Minister for Rural Development Raghuvansh Prasad, perceived to be the most aam aadmi face in the UPA Government, received a hero's welcome by men and women who have been fasting through the day at the end of a 26-day march.
The people are India's landless and impoverished and they only wanted some proof that their voices had been heard. But Raghuvansh Prasad didn't give them too much of solace. He announced the formation of a committee and a council without any concrete solution.
“In one month, I will form a committee to study the issue,” said Raghuvansh Prasad.
This National Land Reforms Council is going to be headed by the Prime Minister and is going to okay the country first National Policy on land 60 years after independence. The committee will look into distribution of land to the landless, help set up a single window system to look into land issues from allotment to possession and will also complete the unfinished task in land reforms. The century-old Land Acquisition Act will be amended, a fast track court will look into all legal issues regarding land.
“I am happy because my rights have been recognised,” said a participant of the 340-kilometre march.
But what about a timeframe and the fact that state governments will have to actually implement it on the ground?
When asked, Raghuvansh Prasad didn’t seem to have an answer.
“How can I give a timeframe? States are also involved,” said the Minister.
The journey has been long but it seems that the promised land is still as distant as when the journey began.
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