World Cities Day: BMC Distributes Second Phase of Land Rights Certificates to Slum Dwellers

Bhubaneswar: Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) has celebrated World Cities Day in a remarkable way, underscoring its commitment to the empowerment and recognition of its urban poor.

The BMC has distributed Land Rights Certificates (LRC) to deserving beneficiaries as part of the Jaga Mission Scheme under the visionary leadership of Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik.

In the first phase of this transformative initiative, the CM distributed 51000 LRCs in a momentous ceremony in Bhubaneswar, marking a significant step towards recognizing and securing land rights for slum dwellers. The Odisha Government’s dedication to providing LRCs to all eligible slum beneficiaries has been evident, with the distribution occurring in carefully planned phases.

The second phase of LRC distribution was managed under BMC’s jurisdiction. In this phase, almost 5,542 families received their LRCs. The distribution centers for the three zones were as follows:

* For the West Zone, LRCs were distributed at Ward number 57’s Badagad Brit Colony and Netaji Padia.

* In the South East Zone, the distribution center was at Ward no. 47’s Community Centre in Unit 8.

* For the North Zone, ChandrasekharPur Kalyan Mandap served as the distribution venue.

The program witnessed the presence of distinguished guests, including Minister of SSEPD, Ashok Chandra Panda, MLA of the Central Zone, Ananta Narayana Jena, and North MLA, Susant Kumar Rout, who lent their support and encouragement to this transformative initiative.

To ensure the smooth execution of this significant event, BMC assigned responsibilities to BMC officials and staff. Senior officers were designated as nodal officers in each zone. Additional Commissioner I managed the North Zone, Additional Commissioner II, Subhendu Kumar Sahu, managed the South West Zone, and Additional Commissioner III, Suryawanshi Mayur Vikash, was responsible for the South East Zone.

The Minister emphasized that the CM has upheld his promise by providing Land Rights Certificates (LRC), transforming slum dwellers into active members of Biju Aadarsa colonies. Furthermore, the urban poor in Odisha now have access to healthcare facilities through the Biju Swasthya Kalyana Yojana.

Commissioner Vijay Amruta Kulange expressed that slum people have moved beyond being classified as slum dwellers; they have evolved into real contributors to urban development, actively shaping the city’s future.

This initiative aligns with the CM Naveen Patnaik’s vision to empower every individual with land rights, fostering a more inclusive and sustainable urban environment and ensuring the security and dignity that all residents rightfully deserve. The BMC is dedicated to building a more equitable and prosperous future for our city.