The National Land Reforms Committee

 

Fundamental to the new vision for land reform is the formation of an empowered National Land Reforms Committee constituted under the leadership of the Prime Minister and chaired by the Minister of Rural Development.  The Committee will be responsible for the creation of a National Land Reforms Policy that will ensure that land reform is central to state government agendas and will introduce public policy measures that will help bring an end to poverty and achieve a more egalitarian society.  The Committee will oversee the implementation of the National Land Reforms Policy and provide an annual progress report to Parliament and all state legislatures. 

 

On January 24th, 2008, the Prime Minister officially approved the members of the Committee and the Council and the Terms of Reference.

 

Some of the responsibilities given to the Committee are to examine issues relating to alienation of tribal lands including traditional rights of the forest-dependant tribals and to suggest realistic measures including changes required in the relevant laws for restoration of such lands to them.  The Committee will also examine the issue of setting up of fast-track courts/mechanism for speedy disposal of land-related litigation cases, recommend measures to prevent/minimize conversion of agricultural land for non-agricultural purposes consistent with development needs of the country and examine measures to provide women greater access to land and other productive assets. 

 

"Committee on State Agrarian Relations and the Unfinished Task in Land Reforms."   

 

Committee Members:

 

1. Minster for Rural Development (Chairman)

2. Shri B N Yugandhar, Member – Planning Commission (GoI)

3. Secretary, Department of Land Resources, Ministry of Rural Development

4. Prof. A.K. Singh, Director, Giri Institute of Development Studies

5. Shri B.K. Sinha, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Panchayati Raj

6. Shri K.B. Saxena, Former Secretary, GoI

7. Prof. P.K. Jha, School of Economic Sciences and Planning, JNU

8. Shri Ramesh Sharma, Ekta Parishad

9. Shri R.C. Verma

10. Shri Subhash Lomte, National Campaign Committee for Rural Workers

11. Dr. T. Haque, Chairman, Commission on Agricultural Costs and Prices

12. Shri Acharya Ram Murthy

13. Shri Jagadananda

14. Ms. Neelima Khetan

15. Shri Ram Dayal Munda

16. Ms. Sashikala, Dalit Bahujan Sramik

17. Shri V.K. Pipersenia, Pr. Secretary, Revenue Department, Govt. of Assam

18. Pr. Secretary, Revenue Department, Govt. of Gujarat

19. Pr. Secretary, Revenue Department, Govt. of Karnataka

20. Pr. Secretary, Revenue Department, Govt. of Uttar Pradesh

21. Pr. Secretary, Land and Land Reforms Department, Govt. of West Bengal

22. Additional Secretary, Department of Land Resources, Ministry of Rural Development (Member Secretary)

 

 

 

 

 

Terms of Reference of the Committee are the following;

 

  1. To conduct in-depth review of the land ceiling programme in the country including status of distribution of land declared surplus, continued possession by the rural poor of the allotted land and expeditious disposal of land declared surplus but held up due to litigation and to suggest appropriate and effective strategies in this regard.

 

  1. To ensure access of the poor to common property resources, suggest ways for identification, management, development and distribution of Government/wasteland to the landless.

 

  1. To review the progress of distribution of Bhoodan landing the States and suggest measures for distribution of the remaining Bhoodan land to the landless.

 

  1. To examine the issue of tenancy and sub-tenancies and suggest measures for recording of all agricultural tenants and a framework to enable cultivators of land to lease in and lease out with suitable assurances for fair rent, security of tenure and right to resumption.

 

  1. To examine issues relating to alienation of tribal lands including traditional rights of the forest-dependant tribal and to suggest realistic measures including changes required in the relevant laws for restoration of such lands to them.

 

  1. To examine the issue of setting up of fast-track courts/mechanism for speedy disposal of land-related litigation cases.

 

  1. To look into the land use aspects, particularly the agricultural land, and recommend measures to prevent/minimize conversion of agricultural land for non-agricultural purposes consistent with development needs of the country.

 

  1. To examine the issues related to homestead rights and recommend measures for providing land for housing to the families without homestead land.

 

  1. To suggest measures for modernization of land management with special reference to updating of land records, proper recording of land rights and speedy resolution of conflicts and disputes relating to land.

 

  1. Suggest institutional mechanisms for effective implementation of land reform programs.

 

  1. To examine measures to provide women greater access to land and other productive assets.

 

  1. To examine the governance issues and convergence of policies relating to land and suggest institutional mechanisms including role of PRIs and PESA for effective implementation of land reform programmes

 

 

  1. To examine the issues related to environmental/ecological factors in relation to land and suggest appropriate measures in that regard

 

  1. To examine the issues related to alienation due to market forces of the lands belonging to the poorer or weaker sections and to suggest appropriate ameliorative measures in this regard

 

  1. To examine the systems of Land Management in the North-East and recommend appropriate measures in relation to them