Koraput, Aug 30: Over 50 tribal families of Kahuguda village under Borigumma block in Odisha’s Koraput district have been locked in a 15-year struggle to reclaim their ancestral land due to a critical administrative error during the 2010 land settlement process, the villagers said on Saturday.

The error, which misclassified tribal land as “Paika” land—a designation typically associated with non-tribal communities—has left these indigenous farmers without legal ownership, government benefits, or access to basic welfare schemes. Despite repeated appeals to local authorities, the issue remains unresolved, forcing many to abandon farming and migrate as bonded labourers.

“We’ve lost our identity and our livelihood,” says Parsuram Majhi, a farmer from Kahuguda. “All we want is our land back in our name.”

The misclassification has not only denied rightful ownership but also excluded the community from tribal welfare schemes, education grants, and agricultural subsidies. The affected families, once self-sustaining cultivators, now face food insecurity and economic displacement.

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Local intellectual Lalu Sadangi said, “This is not just a clerical mistake—it’s a systemic failure that has robbed these families of dignity and rights.”

Following the formation of the new state government, the villagers met Chief Minister Mohan Majhi and submitted a formal complaint. Officials, including Additional Tahsildar Baini Satish Kumar, have assured swift resolution. However, the community remains skeptical, given years of unfulfilled promises.

The Kahuguda case highlights the urgent need for transparent land record systems and accountability in tribal regions. As Odisha pushes for development, it must ensure that its most vulnerable citizens are not left behind.

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