Thousands March in Bindukhatta for Revenue Village Status, CM Promises Cabinet Discussion
About 15,000 villagers marched in Bindukhatta on the 44th day of their agitation for revenue village status, prompting Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami to promise the demand will be taken up in cabinet.
Current Summary
According to a September 27 Pioneer Edge report, the decades-old demand for revenue village status for Bindukhatta reached a decisive turn on the 44th day of an ongoing agitation. Despite two days of continuous rain, about 15,000 villagers rallied toward Lalkuan Tehsil, where they staged a sit-in protest reiterating their demand that the government notify Bindukhatta as a revenue village. Amid mounting public pressure, Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami sent cabinet minister Ram Singh Kaida to negotiate with protesters. Citing a phone conversation between protesters and the Chief Minister, Kaida said Dhami had assured that the Bindukhatta issue would be brought before the cabinet, and appealed to protesters to trust the Chief Minister and pursue dialogue rather than continued protest. Kaida also telephoned Chief Secretary Anand Bardhan in front of the villagers, directing him to take immediate action. Van Adhikar Sangathan chief Umesh Bhatt said the prescribed procedures for granting revenue village status had already been completed, and that a former district magistrate had sent the relevant file to the government regarding the status of Bindukhatta residents.
What We Know
- About 15,000 villagers marched in Bindukhatta on the 44th day of an agitation demanding revenue village status, despite two days of continuous rain.
- Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami sent cabinet minister Ram Singh Kaida to negotiate, who said Dhami has assured the issue will be brought before the state cabinet.
- Kaida directed Chief Secretary Anand Bardhan, by phone in front of villagers, to take immediate action.
- A local activist group says the procedural groundwork for revenue village status was already completed, with a file sent to the government by a former district magistrate.
What Is Still Unclear
- Whether and when the cabinet will actually approve revenue village status for Bindukhatta.
- Any specific timeline given to protesters for a resolution.
What Changed
- 29 Sept, 08:12 pmSignal detected: Thousands March in Bindukhatta for Revenue Village Status, CM Promises Cabinet Discussion
Background
Bindukhatta residents have sought revenue village status for decades, which would grant them formal land and administrative rights currently unavailable to them.