Land distribution efforts bring hope for marginalised, landless farmers

Finally there comes hope for the state's marginalised and landless farmers.It took some time, but land distribution efforts in Gujarat have shown the positive results.


The case in question is the 500 acres of land in Undavi village of Bhavnagar district. This land, which was distributed among 250 beneficiaries under the Zameen Santhani Scheme was cleared last week and made fit for cultivation.The beneficiaries, including 127 ex-serviceman, can now hope to have a sustainable livelihood from their pieces of land.

It all started way back in the 1960s when efforts were initiated throughout the country to redistribute land as a poverty alleviation method. But nothing of much significance happened in Gujarat. TO add to it, the state government on May 17,2005, came out with a Government Resolution(GR), stating that about 19.80lakh hectors of land in the state, fit for agriculture, is suffering due to lack of advanced technology.The GR further stated that in order to the maximum of 2,000 acres will be distributed to big industrial houses and 'efficient' farmers.

This sheer neglect of landless farmers in favor of industrial houses proved to be a final nail in the coffin and evoked sharp criticism throughout the state, forcing the Department of Revenue, Gujarat Government,to issue a circular directing collectors in the state to expedite the land distribution under the Zameen Santhani Scheme. The end result is that, as of now, about 20,000 acres of land has been distributed to nearly 7,ooo beneficiaries in 19 districts.

Chuni Vaidya, president, Gujarat Lok Samiti(GLS), the organisation that helped the farmers in clearing up the land in Undavi, while appreciating the scheme, said," The land distribution to marginalised farmers is not sufficient as there is no clear-cut survey of land, which in any case is full of bushes. Moreover,just distributing the land without water, electricity, fertilisers and seeds doesn't serve the purpose".
The Indian Express,23 April,09