Escolar Documentos
Profissional Documentos
Cultura Documentos
Mrunal [Land Reforms] Post Independence: Abolition of Zamindari, Reasons, Impact, Obstacles, Limitations, First Amendment Print
[Land Reforms] Post Independence: Abolition of Zamindari, Reasons, Impact, Obstacles, Limitations, First Amendment
1. Prologue 2. What is Land reform? 3. Land reforms: broad vs narrow sense 1. What are the objectives of Land reforms? 2. Increase production 3. social justice 4. Economic development 5. Improve standard of living 4. Post-Freedom: Towards land reforms 5. Why Abolish Zamindari? 6. First Amendment, 1951 1. #1: SEBC 2. #2: Freedom of Speech 3. #3 Freedom of Profession 4. #4: Land Reforms 5. #4 Minor modification 7. Timeline of Zamindari Abolition by States 8. Zamindari Abolition Acts: Salient Features 1. #1: Compensation 2. #2: Common Land/resources 3. #3: Ownership transfer 4. #4: Personal Cultivation 5. #5: Direct payment of land revenue 9. Zamindari Abolition: Limitations/Obstacles/Negative points 1. #1: Land reform Delayed= Land reform Denied 2. #2: Personal cultivation 3. #3: New form of Zamindari 4. #4: Not much for Ryotwari 10. Zamindari Abolition: Benefits/Positive points 1. #1: Agro Production increased 2. #2: Emancipation 3. #3: Changed rural power structure 4. #4: Towards an Egalitarian Society 5. #5: Rise of middleclass 11. Mock Questions 12. Appendix: the 9th Schedule
mrunal.org/2013/10/land-reforms-post-independence-abolition-of-zamindari-reasons-impact-obstacles-limitations-first-amendment.html/print/ 1/16
11/1/13
Mrunal [Land Reforms] Post Independence: Abolition of Zamindari, Reasons, Impact, Obstacles, Limitations, First Amendment Print
Prologue
So far in the [Land Reform] series, weve seen: 1. Three land tenure system of the British: Their features, implications. 2. Peasant struggles for land reforms in British Raj: causes and consequences. 3. Land reforms, Before independence: by Congress governments in Provinces, their benefits
and limitations.
Now we look into land reform measures after the independence. But first, Lets once again recap the meaning and importance of land reforms.
1. climate, soil, rainfall 2. farm mechanization 3. farming techniques: use of hybrid seeds, fertilizer, pesticides, irrigation methods
Reforms related to ^institutional factors are called land reforms. Lets check some more definitions def1 def2 def3 def4 def5 def6 Land Reforms is a planned and institutional reorganisation of the relation between man and land Land Reforms mean deliberate change introduced into system of land tenure and the farming structure Land reforms imply such institutional changes which turn over ownership of the farms to those who actually till the soil, and which raise the size of the farm to make it operationally viable. Land reforms mean, such measures as, abolition of intermediaries, tenancy reforms, ceiling on land holdings, consolidation and cooperative farming etc. Improving land tenure and institutions related to agriculture. redistribution of property rights For the benefit of the landless poor.
2/16
mrunal.org/2013/10/land-reforms-post-independence-abolition-of-zamindari-reasons-impact-obstacles-limitations-first-amendment.html/print/
11/1/13
Mrunal [Land Reforms] Post Independence: Abolition of Zamindari, Reasons, Impact, Obstacles, Limitations, First Amendment Print
def7
integrated program to remove the barriers for economic and social development Caused by deficiencies in the existing land tenure system.
Ya but why learn so many definition? Ans. UPSC may directly give you a definition and ask you to comment on it-just like they do in public administration paper I. Example Mock Questions: 1. Land Reforms is a planned and institutional reorganisation of the relation between man and land. Comment. 2. Land reform is not confined to just redistribution of property rights among the landless poor. Comment. 3. Examine the change introduced into system of land tenure and the farming structure during first five year plan. 4. Define Land reforms. Examine its role in removing the barriers for economic and social development in India.
Increase production
Tenant farmer has no motivation to improve agricultural practices because He doesnt own land=cant get loans through banks / formal institutions. He doesnt own land=why bother? He has to pay heavy rent to the landowner=hardly any surplus income left to invest in hybrid seeds, fertilizers, pesticides, machinery etc. In other words, the agrarian structure that we inherited from the past (Zamindari, landlessness etc.) obstructs increase in agricultural production. Land reforms will remove these obstructions. Land ownership/ tenure security will motivate farmers to work harder, invest more and thus produce more =more income=standard of life improved + poverty decreased. For Development of Indian agriculture the importance of land reforms is greater than that of technological reforms. (according to Nobel prize-winner Gunnar
mrunal.org/2013/10/land-reforms-post-independence-abolition-of-zamindari-reasons-impact-obstacles-limitations-first-amendment.html/print/ 3/16
11/1/13
Mrunal [Land Reforms] Post Independence: Abolition of Zamindari, Reasons, Impact, Obstacles, Limitations, First Amendment Print
Myrdal and K.N. Raj, etc.) 1. Zamindari abolition= also eliminates Begari (forced labour) 2. Land ceiling = reduces the inequality of income and land ownership among villagers. Provides land to landless labourers. 3. Tenancy reforms= reduces rents. Landowner cannot evict a tenant farmer as per his whims and fancies. 1+2+3= Rural power structure changed. Upper caste domination decreased. Empowerment of SC/ST/OBC farmers, agri.labourers. Thus land reform=> Social justice + Egalitarian society. 1. on one hand: land reform increase production 2. on the other hand, land reforms will also provide social justice. 3. Abolishing intermediaries (Zamindar, Talukdar, Jagirdar etc)= the State directly comes in contact with farmers. This direct relation will help in rural Development and agri. Development as per five year plans. 1+2+3=long term economic development. When,
social justice
Economic development
1. agro production increased 2. social justice given 3. Economic development achieved. 1+2+3= villagers standard of living automatically increases.
Mock Questions 1. Land reforms have been treated as an integral part of eradicating poverty, and increasing of agricultural production. Comment. 2. Explain the role of Land reforms in providing social justice and moving towards an egalitarian society.
11/1/13
Mrunal [Land Reforms] Post Independence: Abolition of Zamindari, Reasons, Impact, Obstacles, Limitations, First Amendment Print
At this time, we had two set of victim-farmers 1. Those refugee-farmers who migrated from Pakistan. 2. Those exploited by zamindars, landlords and moneylenders. So first question: what was done for those refugee farmers? Government settled them in Eastern parts of current Punjab (because from this area, muslim farmers had migrated to Pakistan so land was available) First, each refugee farmer family given 4 ht. of land, irrespective of how much land they owned in Pakistan. Government also gave them loans to buy seeds/fertilizers, so they can start temporary cultivation. Later, each refugee family was asked file application regarding how much land they owned in Pakistan. These claims were verified by village assemblies and each family was allotted proportional land in Punjab. by 1950 this work was finished. Now moving to the second type of victim-farmers: those exploited by zamindars, landlords and moneylenders. What was done for them? November 1947: the AICC appointed a special committee to draw up an economic programme for the Congress. name of this committee= Economic Program committee Chairman= Nehru. Other members: Maulana Azad, N.G. Ranga, G.L. Nanda, Jayaprakash Narayan etc. For land reforms, committee recommended that: 1. All intermediaries between the tiller and the state should be eliminated
2. Maximum size of holding should be fixed. The surplus land over such a aka Land ceiling. Covered in next article. maximum should be acquired and placed at the disposal of the village cooperatives. 3. Present land revenue Not covered in any article. because income from
5/16
mrunal.org/2013/10/land-reforms-post-independence-abolition-of-zamindari-reasons-impact-obstacles-limitations-first-amendment.html/print/
11/1/13
Mrunal [Land Reforms] Post Independence: Abolition of Zamindari, Reasons, Impact, Obstacles, Limitations, First Amendment Print
agriculture is exempted from income tax. And therefore, many filmstars use fake papers to claim they are farmers. (and then they dance in Dawoods Party @dubai, earn money, manipulate the account books to show that cash coming from their agriculture income and thus evade tax.)
4. All middlemen should be replaced by non-profit making agencies, such as aka Cooperative farming. Will be covered in future cooperatives. article. 5. Pilot schemes for cooperative farming among small land holders 6. Consolidate small land holdings and prevent further land fragmentation.
Lets start with Land Reform Method #1: Zamindari Abolition. But first question:
In Zamindari areas (BeBi: Bengal, Bihar), the British government outsourced the land Revenue collection work to Zamindars. Similarly in the Princely states had Jagirdars. These intermediaries would: 1. Force the tenants to provide demand free labour (Begari) 2. evict tenants as per their whims and fancies = no tenure security 3. Enjoyed lavish lifestyle, did not add anything to agriculture productivity, yet charged high rent they were like todays Middleman @APMC Mandi that we saw
under [Food processing] article series.
Therefore, it was necessary to remove these intermediaries, 1. Because Art. 23 prohibited Begari. But at the grassroot level, Begari couldnot be stopped unless Zamindari itself was abolished.
mrunal.org/2013/10/land-reforms-post-independence-abolition-of-zamindari-reasons-impact-obstacles-limitations-first-amendment.html/print/ 6/16
11/1/13
Mrunal [Land Reforms] Post Independence: Abolition of Zamindari, Reasons, Impact, Obstacles, Limitations, First Amendment Print
2. Because Art. 38 wanted to minimize inequality of income, status and opportunities. When Zamindars control ~40% of Indias cultivated land, there was no opportunity / status for tenant farmers working under them. 3. Because Art. 39 wanted equitable distribution of the material resources of the community for common good. But in villages, these Zamindars control ponds, lakes, forests, grazing lands etc. and didnt allow others to freely access them. 4. Because Art.48 wanted to organize agriculture and animal husbandry on modern-scientific lines but Zamindars were orthodox rent-seeking mindset, and tenant farmer had neither the money nor the motivation to scientific farming. 5. Because First Five year plan also asked for abolition of intermediaries/zamindars to increase agro. Production, farmers income, to provide social justice and move towards an egalitarian society.
#1: SEBC
Before Amendment
Art. 15: State cannot discriminate against any citizen.. So according to this (original) provision, if government provided reservation or any welfare scheme for SC/ST/OBC/PH, then general category could approach court saying were discriminated against and hence our fundamental right is violated. Another Angle: DPSP Art.46: State should promote with special care the educational and economic interests of the weaker sections of the people and protect them from social injustice. But this Directive principle cannot be implement because of Art.15 so, government had to fix this inconsistency with Art.15.
mrunal.org/2013/10/land-reforms-post-independence-abolition-of-zamindari-reasons-impact-obstacles-limitations-first-amendment.html/print/
7/16
11/1/13
Mrunal [Land Reforms] Post Independence: Abolition of Zamindari, Reasons, Impact, Obstacles, Limitations, First Amendment Print
#3 Freedom of Profession
BEFORE 1ST AMENDMENT
Art. 19(1)(g): The citizen has right to practice any profession or to carry on any occupation, trade or business. Now suppose 1. A person without MBBS degree, starts a clinic. 2. A person without doing any pharmacy course, opens a medical store But if the State authorities tried to stop him, he could approach courts saying my fundamental right is violated! Another angle: According to Industrial licensing policy, atomic energy is reserved for public sector. But an entrepreneur could challenge this in court and start his own
mrunal.org/2013/10/land-reforms-post-independence-abolition-of-zamindari-reasons-impact-obstacles-limitations-first-amendment.html/print/ 8/16
11/1/13
Mrunal [Land Reforms] Post Independence: Abolition of Zamindari, Reasons, Impact, Obstacles, Limitations, First Amendment Print
private nuclear plant. (=risky and dangerous from national security point of view)
11/1/13
Mrunal [Land Reforms] Post Independence: Abolition of Zamindari, Reasons, Impact, Obstacles, Limitations, First Amendment Print
courts. Art31B: The Acts and regulations listed in 9th Schedule of the constitution = cannot be challenged in courts on the ground that they are violating fundamental rights. Meaning, courts are prohibited from doing any judicial review of the items listed in 9th Schedule. 9th Schedule: The first Amendment act listed 13 acts and regulations in 9th schedule. all meant for abolishing Zamindari. Meaning Zamindars could not approach courts against those laws. (boring list given @bottom of this current article) Later 14th Amendment, 34th Amendment etc. also added more laws related to land reforms in this 9th Schedule. You can read more about them in Laxmikanths appendix for constitutional amendments.
#4 Minor modification
A few minor amendments in respect of articles 341, 342, 372 and 376. Anyways we digressed much from the Zamindari abolition topic so lets come back. So far weve seen: 1. 2. 3. 4. what is land reform what are the objectives of land reform post-independence, how we moved towards land reform we saw how first amendment 1951 modified freedom of speech modified freedom of profession Protected Zamindari abolition/law reform laws via Art 31A, 31B and 9th Schedule.
mrunal.org/2013/10/land-reforms-post-independence-abolition-of-zamindari-reasons-impact-obstacles-limitations-first-amendment.html/print/
11/1/13
Mrunal [Land Reforms] Post Independence: Abolition of Zamindari, Reasons, Impact, Obstacles, Limitations, First Amendment Print
#1: Compensation
Ownership and land revenue related rights of the zamindars = abolished. Lands transferred to the (superior) tenants. State governments gave compensation to Zamindars ~670 crore rupees. Some states created Zamindari Abolition fund and gave Bonds to Zamindars as compensation. These bonds could be redeemed after a period of 10 to 30 years. (why long term bonds? why not pay all cash upfront? think about the fiscal deficit angle!) State Compensation to Zamindar Jammu No compensation paid to them. And this also led to Hindu-Muslim Kashmir bitterness because Almost all Zamindars were Hindu (in Jammu region). Compensation according to Zamindars income. Uttar Pradesh Small Zamindar= Annual income times 20 Big Zamindar= Annual income times (2 or 4) In other words- compensation formula inversely related to Zamindars income during British raj.
mrunal.org/2013/10/land-reforms-post-independence-abolition-of-zamindari-reasons-impact-obstacles-limitations-first-amendment.html/print/
11/1/13
Mrunal [Land Reforms] Post Independence: Abolition of Zamindari, Reasons, Impact, Obstacles, Limitations, First Amendment Print
Land which was cultivated by the zamindar himself = exempted from purview of these acts. Zamindar was permitted to keep this land.
Now Farmer was made directly liable for paying land revenue to the state government. (Because Zamindar is no longer the middleman in land revenue hierarchy.)
But Even, after the law was finally implemented, the Zamindars refused to cooperate with the revenue authorities and tried all means to scuttle it implementation. The petty revenue officials at Village and Tehsil level, either turned blind eye or actively sided with Zamindars for bribes. Thus many years had passed by for the intention of Zamindari abolition became a reality.
11/1/13
Mrunal [Land Reforms] Post Independence: Abolition of Zamindari, Reasons, Impact, Obstacles, Limitations, First Amendment Print
Main beneficiaries of zamindari abolition were the occupancy tenants or the upper tenants or superior tenants- They had direct leases from the zamindar, and now they became virtual landowners. But now these new landowners leased the same land to inferior tenants/sharecroppers- based on oral and unrecorded agreements. These inferior tenants/sharecroppers could be evicted as per the whims and fancies of the new landowner. Thus, even after the abolition of Zamindari, the system of intermediaries and exploitation continued.
Overall
the Main objective of Zamindari abolition = there should be no intermediary/middleman between the State and the land Revenue payer (farmer). But this objective was not achieved. Therefore, many economists do not attach much significance to Zamindari abolition. They opine Zamindari abolition merely changed the hierarchy of land revenue administration, but did not bring any change in the method of farming nor in the nature of agricultural units. Anyways, enough of negative points, lets check some positive points:
11/1/13
Mrunal [Land Reforms] Post Independence: Abolition of Zamindari, Reasons, Impact, Obstacles, Limitations, First Amendment Print
during and after freedom struggle due to their soft corner for the British.
neither the zamindars, nor the cultivators took interest in improvememt of agriculture land
#2: Emancipation
After abolition of Zamindari, the agricultural laborers no longer forced to give free labors=Begari, Bonded labour declined. Art. 23 fullfilled. Bargaining power of agri. laborers increased=>higher wages=>declined poverty.
11/1/13
Mrunal [Land Reforms] Post Independence: Abolition of Zamindari, Reasons, Impact, Obstacles, Limitations, First Amendment Print
rent=>these farmers could generate profit=>could sent their kids to school and colleges. So in a way, land reforms helped in expansion of Indian middleclass.
Mock Questions
1. Zamindari abolition merely changed the hierarchy of land revenue administration, but did not bring any change in the method of farming nor in the nature of agricultural units. Comment 2. Critically evaluate the signification of Zamindari abolition as a measure of land reforms. 3. Analyse the impact of Zamindari abolition on rural power structure. Do you agree with the opinion that it didnt really benefit the marginalized sections of rural society? 4. Explain how Zamindari abolition helped fullfilling the directive principles of state policy. 5. Land reforms could not have been initiated without enactment of the First Amendment. Comment. 6. Land reforms have been treated as an integral part of eradicating poverty, and increasing of agricultural production. Comment. 7. Explain the role of Land reforms in providing social justice and moving towards an egalitarian society. 8. Land Reforms is a planned and institutional reorganisation of the relation between man and land. Comment. 9. Land reform is not confined to just redistribution of property rights among the landless poor. Comment. 10. Examine the change introduced into system of land tenure and the farming structure during first five year plan. 11. Define Land reforms. Examine its role in removing the barriers for economic and social development in India. In the next article, well the second measure of land reform: Land Ceilings.
11/1/13
Mrunal [Land Reforms] Post Independence: Abolition of Zamindari, Reasons, Impact, Obstacles, Limitations, First Amendment Print
1949). The Bombay Khoti Abolition Act, 1950 (Bombay Act VI of 1950). The Bombay Paragana and Kulkarni Watan Abolition Act, 1950 (Bombay Act LX of 1950). The Madhya Pradesh Abolition of Proprietary Rights (Estates, Mahals, Alienated Lands) Act, 1950 (Madhya Pradesh Act I of 1951). The Madras Estates (Abolition and Conversion into Ryotwari) Act, 1948 (Madras Act XXVI of 1948). The Madras Estates (Abolition and Conversion into Ryotwari) Amendment Act, 1950 (Madras Act I of 1950). The Uttar Pradesh Zamindari Abolition and Land Reforms Act, 1950 (Uttar Pradesh Act I of 1951). The Hyderabad (Abolition of Jagirs) Regulation, 1358F. (No. LXIX of 1358, Fasli). The Hyderabad Jagirs (Commutation) Regulation, 1359F. (No. XXV of 1359, Fasli).
URL to article: http://mrunal.org/2013/10/land-reforms-post-independenceabolition-of-zamindari-reasons-impact-obstacles-limitations-firstamendment.html Posted By Mrunal On 30/10/2013 @ 16:21 In the category polity
mrunal.org/2013/10/land-reforms-post-independence-abolition-of-zamindari-reasons-impact-obstacles-limitations-first-amendment.html/print/
16/16