On Thursday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi distributed Hakku Patra (land title deeds) to five Lambani (Banjara) tribes, a nomadic Scheduled Caste group, during a launch programme in Karnataka.
The programme, which was hailed the “big day” by PM Modi, witnessed the title deeds being distributed to 52,000 Banjara tribes in five districts in north Karnataka. “It’s a big day for the people of Banjara (Lambani nomadic) community as over 50,000 people will get their own roof by way of Hakku Patra”, the PM said at a public meeting at Malkhed in this district.
What is the Hakku Patra?
The Hakku Patra is a property ownership document by which the bearer gets to own land. With the help of this document, the bearer is eligible to purchase and sell land to which the title deed is granted by the government. They will further receive bank benefits by means of the Hakku Patra.
This Hakku Patra will secure the future of thousands of people living in the “Thandas” (Lambani habitats) in Kalaburagi, Bidar, Yadgiri, Raichur and Vijayapura districts, he noted.
Who are the Banjaras?
The Banjara, also known as Lambadi, Gour Rajput, Labana, are a historically nomadic trading caste who may have origins in the Mewar region of what is now Rajasthan.
According to the National Informatics Centre, the name Banjara /Banjari probably had come from two different sources: 'Banijya' - trade or 'Banachara', the forest dwellers. Their principal group's name Laban/Labana is derived from the Sanskrit word lavanah, meaning salt as they were salt traders. They are found moving around in different parts of the country especially during fairs and festivals.
They are multi-lingual. Their mother tongue is 'Banjari'. Besides, they are also conversant in regional languages like Odia, Hindi, Telgu, Tamil, Kannad, Marathi etc depending upon their place of residence as they move here and there for trading.
Despite the community adopting a multitude of languages, Banjara is used throughout India, although in Karnataka the name is altered to Banijagaru.
Although considered a tribal group given the life they lead, the Banjaras are a key scheduled caste sub-group in Karnataka.
Questions of a political move
The Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes together make up nearly 24 per cent of the state population, becoming an important group for political parties like the BJP.
Modi’s move to distribute the Hakku Patra by himself is being seen as a crucial move ahead of the 2023 Karnataka assembly. Days before the event,, JD(S) leader and former Karnataka Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy raised questions on why this was being done by the PM. “Such title deeds are normally distributed by MLAs,” he said, reports Indian Express. Further, he also drew attention to the expenses of the programme that is funded by the state exchequer.
Further, coming down on the former ruling Congress government, Modi claimed that way back in 1993, it was recommended to give revenue village status to ‘Thandas’ but the political party that remained in power for the longest period used the Lambanis as the vote bank and never tried to improve the living condition of these backward families.
“Those living in Thandas had to wage a long struggle for their rights and face many difficulties. They had to wait for a long time”, Modi said. “But now the depressing atmosphere is changing. I want to assure the Banjara mothers that their son (Modi) is sitting in Delhi”.
