e-Bhoomi Policy emerges as a Lifeline for Farmers

Chandigarh, August 22 – Reaffirming its commitment to transparency, the Haryana Government declared that under the e-Bhoomi Policy, not a single inch of land has ever been taken without the free will of farmers. The government stressed that the policy is not only transparent but also a boon for farmers who wish to sell land voluntarily at market rates for public development projects.

Giving more information in this regard, an official spokesperson said that the e-Bhoomi (Purchase of Land Voluntarily offered to Government for Development Projects Policy), first notified in 2017 and revised on July 9, 2025, replaces the controversial practice of compulsory land acquisition under the 2013 Central Act. While the earlier system often left farmers feeling dispossessed, the present policy rests entirely on farmer consent. The spokesperson asserted that the cornerstones of the e-Bhoomi policy are transparency and voluntary participation.

e-Bhoomi Policy ensures that farmers hold the final decision

The spokesperson informed that unlike the old system, the e-Bhoomi Policy ensures that farmers hold the final decision. They can choose to sell their land to the government at market value, pool their land in return for developed plots, or even use the buy-back option, which allows them to resell plots to HSIIDC after three years at prevailing market rates. It is a mutual agreement, not an imposition. This is perhaps the first time that farmers are true partners in shaping development projects.

He clarified that the system also prohibits the purchase of land for private colonizers, developers, or industries. The government accepts land only for public purposes, whether for state-level infrastructure or central government projects. This provision directly addresses farmers’ long-standing grievances that authorities diverted their land for private profit

Haryana Invites Proposals for 35,500 Acres Under Policy

To ease participation, the government has introduced land aggregators. They assist farmers in uploading land details on the portal free of cost. So far, 353 aggregators have been registered. Farmers also have the freedom to independently list their land and quote prices. According to government data, farmers have voluntarily offered 1,850 acres of land through the portal so far, spokesperson added.

Encouraged by this response, the government has invited fresh proposals for 35,500 acres required for six new projects. The deadline for submissions is August 31, 2025. Officers claim they are receiving farmer consent in large numbers across the state.

The truth is that this policy has freed farmers from the nightmare of forced acquisition. Today, farmers can decide what to do with their land, and they are doing so in a transparent, dignified way.

The spokesperson said that observers note that the e-Bhoomi model is unique in India. It blends fair market valuation with voluntary participation. This ensures that development does not trample on farmers’ rights. By making farmers stakeholders rather than victims, Haryana has attempted to set a new benchmark in land policy.