Land and Landlords Land has always remained a sensitive, harassing, important burning issue over the centuries, not decades. Land lords, other than very big land holders, are rich is a misnomer, prior to independence even the land holders (I prefer the term rather than the Landlord) have many a times difficult times even to pay the state the land revenue, because of poor crop yields, which may be due to Natural or man made calamities. Certainly after independence the situation changed. But then again due to the land reforming legislations, say land to the tillers (1971. 1974), Saint Bhinova Bhave ji movement etc, today we are at cross road and ask what the Nation or the ordinary man has gained. Political classes may be left aside. In J&K the lands were taken, I say snatched since 1951 from land holders after one legislation or the other not necessarily/apparently for the welfare of the poor but for political, zonal, regional etc considerations, that to without paying a penny to land holders. For last decade or so if we not take into account the crop yield the land holder’s (land holders irrespective of a class, marginal. Small, big etc) land has brought fortune not because of crop yield but due to perspective financial yield (hard cash). Now poorer are landless labourers not farmers. PS Ghushoo Sambyal.
Land belong to individuals or trusts or govt.. What ever.. U start putting more laws , it's more corruption!! As govt depart,nets never move unless it's greased.. Do we really need a law for this?? 1. State Govts can bring their law 2. Leave it to the industrialist or railways or any one who need the land vs the land owner 3. Lands R bought n exchanged even now between seller buyer..4. So why not it's left to the buyer to select a location n look at land.. These rules make things complicate?i hv seen my self for setting up a factory my dad being a lawyer was in the S&p in South where they acquired 200 and more acres. Price, compensation all given.. This law n Cong stalling it more eye brows R raising.
It is true that most farmland owners are rich landlords (usually politicians)who dont pay any tax on their agricultural income. BUt the landless labour are exploited by these landlords. THese 'landlords' enjoy a lot of freebies and subsidies .including compensation for losses. BUt one cannot deny that today there is more than 50% of land acquired by the Govt lying unused. Most of these lands are acquired by politicians or their brokers for resale to make killing profits, Land is given to them at very low rates and then sold or rented out at 1000 times of what they paid. Si how does one identify the poorest of the poor landless labour. And let us include in the 'fat cats' bracket not just corporates but the rich landlords/politcians who own land!
Rajeev, you have hit the nail on the head. The landless labourer is not being cared for by any Govt. Suicides are commited either by the labourers or small farmers. Their number is the highest. So is that of the salaried class. The creamy layer of both is not affected by the law in general. It is only the lower class that suffers. The middle class of the farmers is just quitting farming for employment or business with a small capital. But the lower class of farmers has nowhere to go.Farm labour is not cheap because of rules & regulations. Even here, there is exploitation because of the unhealthy competition and similar circumstances. The Land bill affects only the small farmers, like the labour laws hurting the lower class of the salaried class. Illustrate one party that stands for these classes. Not one.
I am not a supporter of AAP or Kejriwal but why & how anyone can blame AAP or Kejriwal? The farmer is from Rajasthan & probably ended up in crop losses. But what is Rajasthan Govt doing? Those who blame Kejriwal, please answer if Kejriwal is CM of Delhi OR CM of Rajasthan or PM of India? What was Govt of Rajasthan doing all the while? Was the farmers complaint (1) Crop loss (2) was his land was to be acquired & protesting Land Bill (3) Whether Rajasthan Govt did not attend to any of his requests for compensation for crop loss? Why did he have to come to Delhi as if there is no Govt in Rajasthan? The family members also claim that the handwriting in the suicide note is not that of the farmer. Let CBI dig out the whole mystery.
Did any time take any figures on "totally Waste Land, arable land, arable but no water available etc? I am sure none of the Nehruvian Ministers OR IAS who are supposed to have these figures OR MLAs/MPs of any State? I am sure, the answer is NO. Why TATAs had to plan their famous NONO plant only in Nandigaon where several farmers objected? Are we short of barren land in India? I am sure we have more barren land only than any other. But our great Industrialists & Businessmen want their business just next to Parliament or only in Cannaught Place etc. No wonder, ultimately it is not just the farmer but the common at the receiving end. Yesterday there was a news item on same rediff that Common man cannot afford even 1 BR apt & Govt will need some $200 billions to provide housing for all (by 2022 or whatever) for which we have no answer. When no minister knows what he is doing & what will be long term affect & least bothered about AAM AADMI anytime other than Elections time and unlimited & unquestioned corroption at every step, no one can help India (as commented by CJ of India) Everyone who comes to power, wants to make hay while they shine.
Did any time take any figures on "totally Waste Land, arable land, arable but no water available etc? I am sure none of the Nehruvian Ministers OR IAS who are supposed to have these figures OR MLAs/MPs of any State? I am sure, the answer is NO. Why TATAs had to plan their famous NONO plant only in Nandigaon where several farmers objected? Are we short of barren land in India? I am sure we have more barren land only than any other. But our great Industrialists & Businessmen want their business just next to Parliament or only in Cannaught Place etc. No wonder, ultimately it is not just the farmer but the common at the receiving end. Yesterday there was a news item on same rediff that Common man cannot afford even 1 BR apt & Govt will need some $200 billions to provide housing for all (by 2022 or whatever) for which we have no answer. When no minister knows what he is doing & what will be long term affect & least bothered about AAM AADMI anytime other than Elections time and unlimited & unquestioned corroption at every step, no one can help India (as commented by CJ of India) Everyone who comes to power, wants to make hay while they shine.
good article. Especially the last but one line. As long as (political) incentives exist to perpetuate poverty, our aam aadmi will have to face this fate
