Haryana Cabinet approves leasing Panchayat land to women self-help groups for dairy farming
Babushahi Bureau
Chandigarh, May 18, 2026: The Haryana Cabinet on Sunday approved a new policy allowing village common land (Shamlat Deh) to be leased to Self-Help Groups (SHGs) for dairy farming in a move aimed at promoting rural livelihoods and women’s economic empowerment.
The decision was taken during a Cabinet meeting chaired by Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini.
Under the new policy, Gram Panchayats will be permitted to lease up to 500 square yards of Shamlat Deh land to SHGs registered with the Haryana State Rural Livelihood Mission (HSRLM) and cooperative societies formed by such groups for setting up dairy units.
To implement the decision, the Cabinet approved amendments to Rule 6 of the Haryana Village Common Lands (Regulation) Rules, 1964, along with related conditions governing the leasing process.
According to officials, the lease will initially be granted for five years and may later be extended for another three years based on the satisfactory functioning of the dairy project, subject to certification by HSRLM.
The government said the initiative is aimed at helping members of Self-Help Groups become financially self-reliant and eventually capable of purchasing land independently after successfully running dairy businesses.
The policy also makes it mandatory for SHG members to belong to the same village or Gram Panchayat where the land is being allotted.
In addition, no SHG will qualify for land allotment if any member of the group or their family members, identified through the Parivar Pehchan Patra (PPP), owns land measuring 500 square yards or more.
The Cabinet further decided that any extension of the lease period beyond the initial term will require prior approval from the concerned Deputy Commissioner, who will also act as the competent authority for approving such land allotments by Gram Panchayats.