Question

Outline the major achievements and limitations of land reform in india 15 mark

Answer 1

Land reform is a broad term. It refers to an institutional measure directed towards altering the existing pattern of ownership, tenancy and management of land.

It entails “a redistribution of the rights of ownership and/or use of land away from large landowners and in favour of cultivators with very limited or no landholdings.”

Thus, in a broad sense, land reform refers to an improvement in agro-economic institutions. It includes measures and policies relating to redistribution of land, regulation of rent, improving the conditions of tenancy, cooperative organisation, agricultural education, and so on.

# Objectives of Land Reforms:

Land reform is a part of heritage of the country’s freedom movement since the agrarian structure that we inherited from the British at the time of independence was of the feudalistic exploitative character. Zamindars- intermediaries-moneylenders played a big role in exploiting the masses.

It is in this background that we have to examine the objectives of land reform policy in India. Land reform measures aim not only at raising agricultural productivity. It is also viewed as a tool for social uplift.

# The major objectives of land reform package, as identified in the Eighth Plan, are:

i. Restructuring of agrarian relations to achieve an egalitarian structure;

ii. Elimination of exploitation in land relations;

iii. Actualization of the goal of “land to the tiller”;

iv. Improvement of socio-economic conditions of the rural poor by widening their land base;

v. Increasing agricultural production and productivity;

vi. Facilitating land-based development of rural poor; and

vii. Infusion of a great measure of equality in local institutions.

In fine, growth and social justice are the basic objectives of land reform measures.

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