LAND REFORMS IN KERALA
Land reforms being the State subject, considerable options have been left
to the State governments. The Land reforms in Kerala is one of the most
radical and egalitarian measures resorted by the government of Kerala in
the agricultural front. It was considered as an important feature of the
Kerala’s unique development experience and a model to other states of
India. Of the three regions that made Kerala state in 1956- Travancore,
Cochin and Malabar- Malabar had the greatest struggle over land rights
where the most oppressive land tenure systems exist.
OBJECTIVES OF LAND REFORMS IN KERALA
1. Abolition of intermediaries between the state and the tiller.
2. Conferment of security of tenure on cultivating tenants.
3. Regulation of rent.
4. Consolidation of holding.
5. Establishment of cooperative farming.
DIFFERENT LAND REFORM MEASURES AFTER THE
FORMATION OF THE STATE
The present state of Kerala was formed in 1956 by merging the three
regions ie, Travancore, Cochin and Malabar. It was only after this that the
tempo of land reforms legislation was accelerated in the state. A number
of legislations were enacted in the state immediately after the formation
of the state for protecting the interest of the tenants. They include The
Kerala Land Tax Act (1957), The Kerala Agrarian Relations Bill (1957), The
Jenmikkaram Payment Abolition Bill, The Kerala Stay of Eviction
Proceedings Act (1957), The Kerala Agriculturists Debt Relief Act (1958),
The Kerala Agrarian Reforms Act (1960) etc.
The most comprehensive legislation on land reforms enacted in Kerala
was the Kerala Agrarian Relations Act of 1963. This act provided for the
abolition of intermediary rights on land and fixation of ceiling on land
holdings. This was considered one of the most revolutionary reforms even
introduced anywhere in India. Later, for the speedy implementation of the
land reforms, the government of Kerala in 1969 amended the 1963 Act
and passed the Kerala Land Reforms (Amendment) Act-1969. This act
provided for (1) Conferring ownership rights on Kudikidappukar of small
plots up to 10 cents, (2) Granting ownership rights to the actual tillers of
the land and (3) Fixing ceiling on land holdings, and distributing excess
lands to the landless peasants and agricultural workers.
.MEASURES OF LAND REFORMS IN KERALA
The measures of land reforms in Kerala include abolition of intermediaries,
tenancy reforms and land ceiling.
(1) ABOLITION OF INTERMEDIARIES The Land Reforms Act has
abolished once for all landlordism and intermediary tenures in the state.
The elimination of the intermediaries was a pre-requisite for the
reorganization of agriculture. Therefore top priority was given to abolition
of these intermediaries. With the abolition of intermediaries lakhs of
‘Kudiyans’ and ‘Kudikidappukars’ became the land owners and the
exploitation by the land lords was put to an end. The property rights of the
landlords were acquired by the state on the payment of the
compensation. With the disappearance of the semi-feudal land ownership
system, the cultivators now breathe the air of freedom and equality.
(2) TENANCY REFORMS The progress of implementation of land
reforms has been commendable in the state. The provisions relating to
the tenancy reforms and the purchase of Kudikidappu Rights have been
almost implemented in full. The Land Tribunals received more than 86
lakhs of application from tenants and ‘Hutment’ dwellers. Since the
commencement of the implementation of land reforms, about 16 lakhs
out of 25 lakhs ‘Kaivasakudiyanmars’ had secured ‘Janmavakasam’. Lakhs
of tenants have not been paying rent because they have become defacto
owners of the land they till. Evictions and other type of exploitation have
become merely stories of the past.
(3) LAND CEILING: Ceiling on land holdings has been fixed in Kerala as
per the provisions of the Kerala Land Reforms (Amendment) Act. 1969.
According to the Act, the maximum area of land that can be owned by a
family consisting of a single member is 5 standard acres and that by a
family two or more adult members, but not more than 5, is 10 standard
acres. If the number of adult members in a family exceeds 5, each
additional member above 5 can own one additional acre subject to a
maximum of 5 acres. One standard acre will be equal to 1.5 ordinary
acres. This, however, varies from place to place de pending on the fertility
of the soil and the crop cultivated. The maximum area of land, which a
family can own, can never exceed, under any circumstance, 20 ordinary
acres. Exemption is, however, given to plantations like tea, coffee, rubber,
cardamom and cocoa and to lands owned by co-operative societies and
religious, charitable and educational institutions of a public nature. The
prescribed land ceiling in Kerala is the lowest in India
The excess land would be taken over by the government for distribution
among landless labourers and other weaker sections of the community.
ACHIEVEMENTS OF LAND REFORMS
1. Absentee landlordism was abolished.
2. Change the structure of ownership and operation of land holdings.
3. Surplus land is distributed to the people.
4. All tenants and hutment dwellers have been made owners of the land.
5. Reduce inequality among the people.
6. Helped to social justice.
7. Reduce poverty among the people.
8. Reduce the number of landless people.
9. Fair rent was fixed.
10. Land ceiling was fixed.
11. Improve the status of the tenants.
DEFECTS OF LAND REFORMS
1.It leads to the subdivision and fragmentation of land holdings.
2. Reduction in total agricultural land
3. Still the slogan ‘Land to the tiller’ is not achieved
4. Land is transferred to non-farmers especially to teachers, lawyers, Shop
keepers, political leaders etc.
5. No substantial improvement in production and productivity.
6. Agricultural land is changed into non-agricultural purposes.
7. Change in cropping pattern.
8. Misinterpret land reform laws.
9. Delay in redistribution of surplus land.
10. Political interference.
