Reversing Land Reforms; Are Communists for it?
Will the Communists scrap or reverse the ”Land reforms” in Kerala, a landmark resolution which had transferred agrarian power to the agricultural labourers and poor peasants in this tiny state of India? This has become a hot topic of discussion, and a decision if at all, would surely backtrack the rebellious ”land reforms” Act of the first Communist government?
The ”Land reforms” have helped in shaping the Kerala society by bringing down to a great extent the economic, class and caste inequality and ended the statutory landlordism and the ”janmi” system, and limited the ownership of landholdings.
Soon after the formation of the state in 1957, The Land Reforms Bill of 1959 introduced by the first Communist ministry had the very clear objective of breaking landlordism. It realised the slogan of ”land to the tiller” which had been the promise of the freedom struggle. The tenants became the owners of the land they cultivated and tenancy was banned in all forms. It also imposed limits on landownership and distributed surplus land to the landless.
A new thought has been kick started now with the Communists again at the helm of power. Kerala Industries department has suggested that the Kerala Land Reforms act be repealed taking into account the changed circumstances. The department has also pointed out that the law was binding on the industrial development in the state and the land reforms, having served its purpose, were no longer relevant.
