Under the LDF government, a total of 2,34,567 land deeds have been distributed across the state in the last six years.

“WE’ve been living here for 23 years. But it took so many years for us to obtain land rights deeds,” says Gopinathan Ashari, who lives along with other 40 families in Paloli Colony, near Palode in Thiruvananthapuram district of Kerala. “It was a moment of fulfilment for all of us,” add Shantha, Shanthini, and Leela, who live in the neighbourhood. These families were handed land deeds by Kerala Revenue Minister K Rajan on May 17 as part of the 100-day action plan to mark the first anniversary of the Left Democratic Front (LDF) government’s second term.

During the 100-day action plan from February 11 to May 20, 41,021 land title deeds were distributed in the state.

Inaugurating a land deeds distribution event last week in Punalur, Kollam district, Kerala chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan had reiterated the state government’s commitment to eliminate landlessness and homelessness in the state.

MISSION TO ELIMINATE LANDLESSNESS

Despite its history of land reforms, the question of land ownership in Kerala has been an exception compared to other poverty indicators, in which the state generally fared well. The Economic Review published by Kerala State Planning Board in 2016 had pointed out this as a major challenge ahead.

A nationwide survey on 'Land and Livestock Holdings' (January 2013-December 2013) conducted by the National Sample Survey Office (NSSO) indicated a double increase in the percentage of landless households in Kerala, between 2003 and 2013. The proportion of landless families in the state rose from 4.8 per cent in 2003 to 9.85 per cent in 2013, according to the survey. Although the survey was based on projections of a relatively smaller sample size, the pointers were alarming.

Since the LDF government assumed power in 2016, a total of 2,34,567 land deeds have been distributed across the state within the last six years. During the second tenure of the ministry, 54,535 land deeds were issued within a year. This includes settler farmers who have been possessing agricultural land with no records. The government has also provided 2,96,008 houses for the homeless within the last six years.

As the Left government is celebrating the first anniversary of its second term, a target was set to distribute 15,000 land deeds during the 100-day action plan. However, during this period, the revenue department went past double the target and distributed 41,021 land title deeds.

The digital resurvey, being implemented in the state for the first time, is also expected to ease land distribution to many. “Once the resurvey is completed, unused land can be identified as per land reform regulations, which in turn would make the land distribution to the deserving landless families easy,” said Kerala revenue minister K Rajan at a land deeds distribution event in Vaikkom, Kottayam.

Courtesy: Newsclick