In a bid to empower women, the Odisha government on Wednesday reduced the stamp duty by one per cent on purchase of land and houses in names of women in the state. “In a historic decision, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik decided to reduce the rate of stamp duty to four per cent from five per cent on purchase of land and houses in names of women,” an official statement issued by the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO) said.
Stating that lakhs of women would be benefited from the decision, the release said the stamp duty was being collected by the revenue department during purchase or gift of land and houses. While the rate of stamp duty in the state was generally 7 per cent of the land cost, it had been 5 per cent in case of women. However, after Wednesday’s decision, the women would have to pay only 4 per cent as stamp duty. The decision was taken on the basis of the provision of the state government’s women and girls policy, 2014, it said.
PTI