Honouring soldiers who have served the nation is an important responsibility of society and government. Financial assistance, welfare schemes, medical support and recognition of the contribution of veterans are all valuable components of ex-servicemen welfare.
At the same time, there is another issue that deserves wider discussion: creating a permanent livelihood opportunity for ex-servicemen who do not own agricultural land or possess only a very small agricultural holding.
A policy for the allotment or settlement of suitable government-owned agricultural land to eligible landless or marginal-landholding ex-servicemen could become an important component of long-term veteran rehabilitation and resettlement.
This proposal should not be viewed as a demand limited to one State. It can be considered at the level of State Governments and Union Territories across India, subject to the applicable land laws, availability of government land and the eligibility conditions prescribed by the respective government.
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From Temporary Assistance to Long-Term Livelihood
Ex-servicemen welfare is not limited to pensions and financial assistance. The objective of resettlement is also to help personnel make a sustainable transition to civilian life.
The Department of Ex-Servicemen Welfare states that the welfare of ex-servicemen and their dependants is a joint responsibility of the Central and State/UT Governments. The Department also specifically identifies land allotment by State Governments to ex-servicemen as one of the matters falling within its administrative responsibilities.
The Kendriya Sainik Board also explains that Rajya Sainik Boards and Zila Sainik Boards are responsible for policy formulation and implementation of resettlement and welfare schemes for ex-servicemen, widows and dependants at the State and district levels.
Therefore, the question of land-based livelihood for veterans can reasonably be considered within the broader framework of resettlement and welfare policy.
Why Agricultural Land Could Be Considered for Eligible Veterans
A number of former soldiers return to civilian life without owning agricultural land. Some may have family land, but the holding may be too small to provide a meaningful livelihood.
For such veterans, an appropriate agricultural land settlement, wherever legally permissible and land is available, could potentially provide an opportunity for self-employment.
The veteran could cultivate the land personally, involve family members in agriculture, lease or use it in accordance with the applicable legal restrictions, or develop an approved agricultural activity where permitted by the State’s rules.
Such an approach would be different from a one-time financial grant.
A financial grant may meet an immediate need. Agricultural land, where legally settled with appropriate safeguards, could potentially become a long-term productive asset and source of livelihood for the veteran and the family.
West Bengal Provides an Example of the Legal Concept
West Bengal provides an interesting example of how government-disposal land can be dealt with under a statutory land-reform framework.
Under Section 49(1) of the West Bengal Land Reforms Act, 1955, settlement of land at the disposal of the State Government is provided for in the manner prescribed, with persons who are residents of the locality where the land is situated. The provision therefore operates subject to the statutory framework and prescribed procedure; it does not create an automatic right to land for any particular category of applicant.
The West Bengal Government’s own description of its land-reforms programme explains that land reforms have included the distribution of vested and ceiling-surplus land among landless persons and that the West Bengal Land Reforms Act, 1955 provides a framework relating to vesting, distribution, survey and settlement of land.
This makes West Bengal a useful illustrative example for discussing the possibility of a veteran-focused agricultural land settlement policy.
However, Section 49 of the West Bengal Land Reforms Act should not be treated as a law applicable throughout India.
Every State and Union Territory has its own land laws, rules, land records system, ceiling provisions, eligibility criteria and procedures. Consequently, a pan-India proposal should be implemented through the respective legal and administrative framework of each State/UT.
A Possible Agricultural Land Settlement Scheme for Ex-Servicemen
State Governments could consider introducing a dedicated policy for eligible ex-servicemen and, where appropriate, eligible widows or families of deceased service personnel.
The proposed scheme could cover landless ex-servicemen and veterans having agricultural land below a prescribed limit, subject to verification of their existing landholding.
Priority could potentially be considered for veterans who have no agricultural land, disabled veterans, widows of service personnel and economically weaker eligible veteran families, subject to the policy formulated by the concerned government.
The scheme need not necessarily involve large parcels of land.
A government could prescribe a reasonable maximum area based on the availability of agricultural land, the State’s land-ceiling laws, the nature of the land and the objective of the scheme.
The land could be provided through settlement, lease, allotment or another legally permissible form of tenure, depending upon the State’s law.
Government Land Should Be Used Only Where Legally Suitable
The proposal is not for indiscriminate distribution of government land.
Only land that is legally available for settlement and suitable for the proposed purpose should be considered.
Land required for public institutions, roads, water bodies, forests, ecological protection, infrastructure, community purposes, tribal rights, existing lawful occupants or other statutory purposes should remain protected according to law.
Similarly, land under litigation, disputed land or land subject to statutory restrictions should not be included merely because it is recorded as government land.
A transparent land identification and verification process would therefore be essential.
A Transparent Eligibility System Can Be Developed
To avoid misuse and ensure fairness, the government could establish clear eligibility conditions.
For example, an applicant could be required to submit proof of military service, discharge or service particulars, pension/PPO details where applicable, landholding information and an affidavit declaring the agricultural land owned by the applicant and spouse/family members as required by the applicable rules.
The concerned revenue authorities could verify the land records before considering an application.
The State could also prescribe conditions relating to minimum period of service, domicile or local residence, existing landholding, income, family circumstances and other factors.
These conditions would necessarily differ from State to State.
Why the Proposal Should Be Considered Beyond One State
The need for veteran rehabilitation is not confined to West Bengal.
India has ex-servicemen, widows and veteran families living in rural and urban areas across the country. The Central Government’s Department of Ex-Servicemen Welfare operates through the Kendriya Sainik Board and the network of Rajya and Zila Sainik Boards for welfare and resettlement matters.
The Directorate General Resettlement also has the broader objective of facilitating the economic and social rehabilitation of ex-servicemen, including through employment, training and self-employment opportunities.
Agricultural land settlement could therefore be examined as one additional resettlement option, alongside employment, entrepreneurship, training and existing welfare schemes.
Possible Role of Rajya and Zila Sainik Boards
Rajya Sainik Boards and Zila Sainik Boards could play an important role in identifying the requirement.
A district-level survey could determine how many registered ex-servicemen:
- do not own agricultural land;
- own agricultural land below a prescribed threshold;
- depend substantially on agriculture for livelihood;
- are willing and capable of undertaking agricultural activities; and
- may benefit from a government land-based livelihood programme.
Such a database could help governments assess the actual demand before formulating a scheme.
The proposal could then be forwarded through the appropriate Zila Sainik Board, Rajya Sainik Board, Department of Sainik Welfare, Revenue/Land Department and other competent authorities.
Land Settlement Could Be Linked With Agricultural Support
Land alone may not always be sufficient to establish a sustainable livelihood.
If a State Government introduces such a scheme, it could examine convergence with existing agricultural programmes relating to irrigation, seeds, agricultural equipment, soil testing, horticulture, livestock, fisheries, crop insurance, farmer training and institutional credit, wherever the veteran is eligible.
This could transform the proposal from merely a land-allotment programme into a broader Veteran Agricultural Livelihood and Resettlement Programme.
The Proposal Is Not About Free Land for Every Veteran
It is important to clarify the nature of the proposal.
The objective is not to suggest that every ex-serviceman should automatically receive government land.
Nor should government land be distributed without considering land laws, public requirements, land ceilings, environmental restrictions, existing rights and the claims of other eligible beneficiaries.
The proposal is for the government to examine whether a legally sustainable, transparent and limited agricultural land settlement policy can be created for eligible landless or marginal-landholding veterans.
The final eligibility conditions, mode of settlement, area of land and tenure rights would have to be determined by the competent government under the applicable law.
A Dignified Form of Veteran Welfare
Veterans generally value dignity and self-reliance.
For a former soldier who has no agricultural land, the opportunity to cultivate a small piece of land could provide more than an immediate financial benefit. It could provide productive work, family involvement and an additional source of income during post-service life.
For a veteran family, agricultural land could potentially become a long-term family asset, subject to the tenure conditions and restrictions imposed by law.
This is why the discussion deserves to go beyond ceremonial recognition.
Respect for veterans can coexist with policies that create sustainable livelihood opportunities.
A Pan-India Policy Can Be Adapted to Local Conditions
A uniform national land-allotment law may not be necessary or legally appropriate because land administration and land laws differ between States and Union Territories.
Instead, the Central Government, through the appropriate ex-servicemen welfare institutions, could encourage States/UTs to examine the feasibility of veteran-focused land settlement policies.
Each State could formulate its own policy according to:
available government land + applicable land law + local eligibility requirements + agricultural suitability + existing land-reform policy + veteran welfare objectives.
Such a model would allow individual States to adopt the idea without ignoring their respective legal frameworks.
Personal Application for Agricultural Land Settlement
An individual ex-serviceman who does not own agricultural land, or owns only a small quantity of agricultural land, may submit an application to the competent authority requesting consideration for agricultural land settlement.
The exact authority will vary according to the State. Depending upon the local system, an application may be submitted through the Zila Sainik Board/District Sainik Welfare Office, District Magistrate/Collector, Revenue Department, Land & Land Reforms Department, or other prescribed authority.
The following is a general format that can be adapted according to the State’s rules.
Application Format
To
The District Magistrate/Collector
[Name of District]
[State]
Through:
The Secretary/Secretary-in-Charge
Zila Sainik Board / District Sainik Welfare Office
[District, State]
Subject: Application for consideration of allotment/settlement of suitable agricultural government land for livelihood under applicable rules
Respected Sir/Madam,
I, No. __________ Rank __________ Name __________________, an ex-serviceman of the Indian Army/Navy/Air Force, respectfully submit this application for consideration for allotment/settlement of suitable agricultural land, if available, under the applicable land laws, rules and government policy.
I was enrolled in the Armed Forces on __________ and was discharged/retired from service on __________ after completing approximately __________ years of service.
I presently reside at [full address] and am registered with the [Name of Zila/Rajya Sainik Board, if applicable].
I respectfully submit that I do not own any agricultural land in my name / my existing agricultural landholding is only __________ acres/hectares, which is insufficient to provide a sustainable agricultural livelihood for my family.
I therefore request the competent authority to kindly consider my case for settlement/allotment of suitable agricultural land from government land legally available for such purpose, subject to the applicable law, rules, eligibility conditions and availability of land.
I am willing to undertake agricultural cultivation personally and/or with the assistance of my family and to comply with all conditions attached to any settlement or allotment made by the competent authority.
I further undertake that the information furnished by me regarding my landholding and family circumstances is true and correct to the best of my knowledge. I am also willing to submit any additional documents or undergo verification by the concerned Revenue/Land and Sainik Welfare authorities.
I therefore request that my application may kindly be considered sympathetically under any existing provision or suitable scheme applicable to ex-servicemen. If no such scheme is presently available, I request that my representation may kindly be forwarded to the competent authority for consideration under an appropriate government policy, if legally permissible.
Yours faithfully,
Name: __________________________
Rank: __________________________
Service No.: ____________________
Service: Army / Navy / Air Force
Date of Birth: __________________
Date of Discharge/Retirement: __________
PPO No.: _______________________
ECHS Card No.: __________________
ZSB/RSB Registration No.: _____________
Present Address: _______________________
Mobile No.: ___________________________
Email: ________________________________
Date: __________
Place: __________
Signature: __________________
Documents Enclosed :
- discharge/service certificate,
- PPO or pension document,
- Aadhaar/identity proof,
- Zila/Rajya Sainik Board registration or identity card,
- land-record documents,
- declaration regarding existing agricultural landholding,
- family/dependency documents
Applicants should not assume that every document listed above is mandatory. The actual checklist should be obtained from the competent authority because requirements can differ between States and schemes.
A Collective Representation Can Also Be Submitted
Along with individual applications, ex-servicemen organisations, Zila Sainik Boards and veteran associations could consider submitting a collective representation to the concerned State Government.
The representation could request the government to conduct a feasibility study covering the availability of government agricultural land, the number of landless or marginal-landholding ex-servicemen, applicable land laws and the possibility of creating a special settlement policy.
This would allow the government to examine the proposal on the basis of actual data rather than individual cases alone.
Conclusion
The contribution of India’s Armed Forces does not end when a soldier retires.
For many veterans, retirement marks the beginning of a new phase in which they have to establish a sustainable civilian livelihood. Existing pension and welfare measures remain important, but additional livelihood opportunities can also play a significant role in rehabilitation and resettlement.
The idea of providing suitable government agricultural land to eligible landless or marginal-landholding ex-servicemen is therefore worth placing before State Governments for legal and administrative examination.
West Bengal’s land-reform framework, including the statutory mechanism concerning settlement of land at the disposal of the State Government under Section 49 of the West Bengal Land Reforms Act, 1955, demonstrates one possible legal context for such a discussion. It should, however, be treated only as a State-specific example, not as a pan-India legal provision.
Across India, the appropriate approach would be for each State/UT to examine its own land laws and available government land and determine whether a suitable veteran-focused agricultural settlement policy can legally and administratively be introduced.
For a former soldier who has no agricultural land, a productive piece of land may represent much more than property. It can represent self-reliance, dignity, family livelihood and a continuing connection with productive work after military service.
Honour is important. Financial assistance is important. But where legally feasible, creating a permanent livelihood opportunity can be an equally meaningful expression of gratitude towards those who served the nation.
The proposal is simple: where suitable government agricultural land is legally available, let eligible landless and marginal-landholding ex-servicemen be considered for a transparent, lawful and sustainable agricultural land settlement scheme.