Saga of land reforms from PV to KCR

It was exactly 45 years ago, on August 30, 1972, the then Chief Minister of undivided Andhra Pradesh, late PV Narasimha Rao, while introducing the historic land reforms bill in the state legislative assembly, spoke eloquently in a debate, which reflected his strong commitment to land reforms.

If they are read with the data on land holdings made public by the Government of Telangana against the background of the proposed survey settlement and rectification of land records, in accordance with the thought process of the Chief Minister K Chandrashekhar Rao, interesting aspects will come to light.

If at all there is one single benefit that had accrued during the erstwhile rule, that could perhaps be the land reforms pioneered by PV who happened to be from Telangana. If the marginal, small, semi-medium and medium holdings account for 97 per cent in Telangana today, the roots are in PV’s land reforms.

Land reforms came into force on June 1, 1973. Prior to the introduction of the Bill in the Assembly on 30th August 1972, an ordinance was proclaimed in May 1972.

The land legislation and its implementation envisaged among other things redistribution of rights and interests in land in favour of the landless poor, thereby, leading to reduction in inequalities in the ownership of land, fixing of ceiling to each family unit, distribution of government land to the poor, distribution of surplus land which was hitherto in the hands of landlords to the weaker sections for agricultural purposes and house sites, better prospects for agricultural labour and improvement in the socio-economic base of the rural society.

Introducing the revolutionary and historical land reforms Bill in the State Assembly, PV exhibited his authority on many features of the bill, touching upon several interesting and challenging characteristics that echo his statesmanship, his all-round knowledge on land-related issues and issues related to politico-socio-economic facets.

In the process, PV mentioned about the personnel committed to secure social justice to implement land reforms; about designated role to the High Courts in minimising injustice to aggrieved persons; about "Stridhana" or the property held by a woman provided for in the “Dayabhage" and "Mitakshara" schools; about providing due compensation to farmers who would lose holdings under the ceiling; distribution of land to SCs and STs and to the backward classes: about constituting tribunals; and about the need to bring an ordinance in advance.

PV said that he started the implementation process of the land ceiling since May 1972 by way of bringing an ordinance. It was a preventive action, said PV, so that implementation later was not defeated. PV said that the object of the bill was to delimit acquisitions of agricultural holdings and prevent big land lords from transferring large agricultural holdings in different names including their cats and dogs and other domestic animals to escape the proposed agricultural lands ceiling act. He said he had already discussed this ordinance with several important people, and they had agreed, in turn, that this bill was very much necessary to curb the afore-mentioned practices.

In the Legislative Assembly, PV said that, “the seeds of land reforms were sown as long ago as the days of Ramayana. The interest and personal attention bestowed by a small farmer on a small piece of land is much better than that of a land lord. Land Reforms Act, with so many dimensions and ramifications, cannot be brought by sitting at home but needs a state-wide dialogue.

At the same time, consuming time on unnecessary, discussions will also help the land lord to circumvent the Act. Otherwise, dogs and cats will also get a share in the land lord’s property. Hence, an ordinance became necessary to avoid further damage. The bill is not aimed at taking revenge on anybody or not to put anybody to loss. This is only to bring equality in society.”

The then CM added: “Today the society respects someone who is landed and possess 500 acres or more land. He is proud and arrogant. If his land holding is reduced to some 20 or 30, proportionately his arrogance will also come down. A society that is totally dependent on property, and a society where property holder is looked with respectability, unless it is properly operated upon we will be void of values.

Any act is passed to benefit the people. As representatives of people we never think to bring an act that is not to your liking. Charity begins at home. Most of the legislators are from rural areas. We are going to declare our lands first. As leaders, we have a responsibility to do it first. A leader is not just for getting votes. Let me remind you that you cannot escape from this act. If you give voluntarily okay, otherwise I take through the act. People want it and want the act to be implemented.”

The Land Reforms Act, introduced as a Bill on August 30, 1972, and brought into implementation with effect from June 1, 1973, benefited Telangana to a large extent. As per the available statistics now, about 3.14 lakh acres of surplus land was distributed to SCs, STs and other weaker sections for agriculture and house site purposes benefiting 2.26 lakh people.

About 23 lakh acres of land was assigned to various sections benefiting about 15.84 lakh individuals. However, the land so distributed could not be exploited properly since the governments of those days did not bother to provide agriculture-related facilities or inputs required by the small and marginal farmer; and as a result, the purpose was defeated.

Thanks to PV’s land reforms, not only big landlords had to surrender surplus land but further land concentration and purchase of agricultural lands by them was stopped. Against the backdrop of the Telangana government’s proposal to go in for a comprehensive survey and land records rectification, the available statistical data reveals that the marginal, small, semi-medium and medium holdings account for 97 per cent.

It is primarily the land records of these lands that will now be subjected to rectification, cleansing and updating in toto in the State, so that the land-related issues find a litigation-free permanent solution. Chief Minister KCR suggested that the maintenance of land records and registration process pertaining to these lands should be simplified with utmost transparency.

Going into further details: out of a total extent of about 1.55 crore acres of of agriculture land, more than 39 lakh acres account for 62 per cent of holdings of between 1.25 acres and 2.5 acres. As much as 24 per cent of holdings are between 2.5 acres and 5 acres, accounting for 46 lakh acres, while 11% of holdings are between 5 acres and 10 acres, accounting for 39 lakh acres.

The percentage of holdings between 10 acres and 25 acres is just 3 and account for 23 lakhs acre. The holdings above 25 acres are just 0.28% and account for a meagre 6 lakh acres of land. As far as number of holdings are concerned, they comprise: 34.41 lakh, holding 1.25 acres to 2.5 acres, 13.27 lakh, possessing between 2.5 and 5 acres, 6 lakh with 5 to 10 acres, 1.67 lakh with 10 to 25 acres, and above 15,775 holdings with 25 acres and above.

By any means, if you ponder on the maximum beneficiaries of Chief Minister’s Rs 8,000 per acre input subsidy scheme, it is undoubtedly the small, medium and marginal farmers who will benefit the most. Thus, it is to the credit of PV that we have today the small holdings and it is to the credit of KCR that they are getting the maximum benefit. (Writer is CPRO to Telangana Chief Minister)

By Vanam Jwala Narasimha Rao