In India land ownership is crucial for the livelihood of millions of rural poor . Even after seven decades of independence from British colonialism , the vast majority of the land is possessed by rich landed sections , although small farmers , landless poor constitute more than 80 percent of the farming community , the latter own a negligible land area . Consequently , inequalities in land ownership in villages became a major obstacle to poverty eradication and an obstacle to increasing agricultural production and productivity . Land reforms initially intended to provide land to the tiller , remained largely an unfinished agenda . Successive governments have conveniently ignored their implementation and even reversed the agenda of land reforms . Neoliberal economic reforms facilitated land and food to become marketable commodities , depriving minimum livelihoods to millions of poor farmers and landless rural poor in South Asia .
Soon after the attainment of independence in India , the Zamindari system was abolished and Land reforms were proposed with the intention to distribute land to Tiller .
The original intention was to turn the landless into a small farmer by providing him with some land . We reached a situation where there is almost no land distribution for the landless and at the same time , small and medium farmers are losing their land at a fast pace . However , seven decades after independence , successive governments are steadily going back on the commitment of land reforms in India . This is true of the union government as well as with several state governments . This has been one of the most unfortunate aspects of development policy in India . The Green Revolution heralded in late 60 ’ s , though increased food production and at the same time 6
Reversal of Land Reforms and Land to Tiller Remains a Distant Dream
brought increased inequalities between small , marginal farmers and rich landed farmers in villages .
What we see is the reversal of the land reforms taken up initially in the post-independence period . This is a serious betrayal to the demands of farmers who fought against feudal exploitation and British colonizers . Inequalities in Land Ownership :
Land struggles waged by Communist Party in early 1950 ’ s led to nearly 10 Lakh acres of land belonging to feudal land lords occupied and distributed to thousands of land less poor during Telangana and Punnapravalar peasant struggles . During 1960 ’ s & 70 ’ s militant struggles waged by AIKS ( All India Kisan Sabha ) and BKMU ( Khet Mazdoor Sangh ) brought again land reforms — a major agenda . These struggles forced Government of India and various state governments look in to implementation of land reforms .
As a result , legislations were made in some states , land ceiling was imposed and some land has been confiscated from land lords . The implementation of land reforms was half hearted . Eventually , the very structure of land ownership in villages did not change significantly . The bulk of the land remained in hands of large sections of rich & middle peasantry . Only a minuscule portion became accessible to small & landless peasantry belonging to backward & Dalit sections . With the failure of land reforms undertaken by different states the poverty and unemployment in villages remained largely unresolved . As of 2020 , small and marginal farmers ( constituting 84.2 % of the farming community ), own less than two hectares . The small & marginal farmers together own only 47.3 % of cropped area , while the remaining 52.7 % is held
Dr . Soma Marla
by a small minority of large and middle sections of farmers .
For example , in Telangana Land Reforms ( Ceiling on Agricultural Holdings ) Act , 1973 , land ceiling on agricultural holdings was imposed and surplus lands ( including Bhoodan lands ) were confiscated by the government . However , a mere 2.1 % of cultivable land was distributed among land less poor . A majority of the land either continues to remain in possession of big and rich farmers or embroiled in legal & bureaucratic litigations . The very idea of the distribution of surplus land to the landless tillers remained unfulfilled . According to National Sample Survey , India ( 2020 ):
• Small & marginal farmers ( 84.2 % of the farmers ) own less than 2.0 ha . and own only 47.3 % of cropped area
• Rich landed farmers of 13.8 % ( of the farmers ) own 47.3 % of cropped land . Further there are huge differences in land ownership structure across states .
• In Punjab and Bihar , 80 % of land is owned by mere 10 % of rich landlords .
• Where as in Telangana , Rajasthan and Karnataka , 55 % of agricultural land is owned by rich 10 % households .
• In India mere 4.9 % of farmers control 32 % of India ’ s farmland .
• A big farmer in India has 45 times more land than a “ marginal ” farmer .
• Landlessness : Four million people , or 56.4 % of rural households , own no land . ( Data , 2018 , National Sample Survey of India ).
• Overall 48.9 % of cultivable land is irrigated with large tracks remaining dry lands dependent on monsoons .
• Of the total net cropped area , nearly 82 % of fertile & irrigated land is owned by top rich farmers .
Class Struggle