Land Woes: 'Revenue Code' is the solution

In order to reduce anomalies in land acts in the Telugu states, implementation of Common Revenue Code might provide a possible solution, as there are more than 200 acts about land in Telugu states and many of them are outdated.

Hyderabad: Efforts to distribute lands to the poor are continuing to date from the initial days of the Independence struggle. On the other hand, vigorous attempts are being made to resolve issues pertaining to landowners, land leases and disputes.

More than half of the rural population do not own any land. The remaining have little land. Boundary disputes, errors in documentation, lack of passbooks and legal controversies are some of the challenges.

Land reforms, distribution, Land Gift movement, Forest and Tribal Rights Acts have been implemented by governments to redistribute lands to the poor. Simultaneously, digitalizing land records and land surveys are carried out. According to 2014, Central government socio-economic caste census, 56% of Telangana’s and 76% Andhra Pradesh’s rural population don’t own land.

In the past 5 years, governments of Telugu states have taken actions to resolve land challenges. Through Ma Bhoomi in Telangana and Mi Intiki Mi Bhoomi in Andhra Pradesh, land records were reformed. Both states have modified revenue acts. Small and marginal farmers who purchased lands through Sada Bainama (plain paper transactions) were given passbooks. Laws were made to regularize dotted lands in AP. Efforts to give documents to farmers who purchased assigned lands began in both states.

Digital India Land Records Modernization Programme (DILRMP) was launched to improve the state of land affairs but the results are not so optimistic.

Absence of documents stating ownership or leasing out of land makes it difficult to claim any rights on it. Land documents must be legitimate and clear to avail crop loans, severance package, subsidies and government aids.

Central Government has modified the National Land Records Modernization Programme (NLRMP) to DILRMP and implementing it. Its aim is to streamline all the land records in various states by 2022. Rs. 1,933 crores were released as funds for its implementation. But the programme is moving at a snail pace.

The Government of Telangana has issued passbooks based on modified documents. All the digitized documents are being made available on Dharani website. According to government records, 95% of the documents are proper. In Andhra Pradesh, documents are made available on Mi Bhoomi portal. Although online portals are beneficial, farmers are still facing challenges due to errors in documentation. The Government of Andhra Pradesh has introduced Title Guarantee act to protect the laws of farmers.

Besides erroneous documentation, complexity of laws and acts pertaining to lands is the main reason for confusion. There are more than 200 acts about land in Telugu states. Many of them are outdated.

Right after the state formation, the Telangana government has asked Nalsar Law University to research on land laws so that a common revenue code could be formulated. Even Andhra Pradesh appointed a committee to reduce anomalies in land acts. Although some reforms have been made, some challenges are still unresolved.

Thousands of acres of lands which were added to Prohibited Properties list accidentally are yet to be removed. High Court has ordered that assigned lands to the poor before 1958 in Telangana and before 1954 in AP could be sold but the lands are still on the list.

Dotted lands in AP is another pertinent issue. The state government has made a law in 2017 and made several amendments to it later. Inam lands were legalized by amending the Inam land act.

It is obligatory to conduct total land survey and prepare new documents. Common Revenue Code must be implemented in both the Telugu states. Such an attempt was made in 1999. 3 years ago, Uttar Pradesh introduced Revenue Code and the results are satisfactory. In the place of Record of Rights, Title Guarantee Act must be introduced. The Prohibited Properties list must be modified accordingly. Paralegal and Community surveyors must be reintroduced to support the farmers.

The woes of landless farmers are numerous. Landowners are scared that a written lease of land might cause new problems. At the same time, landless farmers won’t benefit if there is no written agreement.

NITI Aayog’s guidelines about leasing out land to landless farmers haven’t been implemented yet. Tribal farmers who cultivate bushy lands face a different set of issues. According to the Forest Act 2006, tribals must be given documents for the lands they have been cultivating before 13th December 2005.

Two lakh Girijans have received land documents to this effect. There are still numerous farmers who are awaiting their documents.