Question

To reduce inequality in distribution of assets in rural areas, which of the following measuremeasures is implemented by the government in India?
a. Progressive taxation
b. Land reforms measures
c. Public Distribution System
d. Anti-poverty measures

Answer 1

Answer:

Explanation:

Land reform constitutes the measures to improve the economic con­dition of agricultural tenants in West Bengal. It aims at the redis­tribution of land-ownership in favour of the culti­vating class.

In India, income inequalities are mostly resulted from the concentration of agricultural land in the hands of a few big landlords. The Zamindary system prevailing in our country has created a system of absentee landlords in the farm sector who appropriated a major portion of the agricultural produce by exploiting the farmers.

After independence, various legislative measures were introduced for abolishing the system of absentee landlords and other intermediaries and imposing ceiling on land holdings. But all these measures failed to achieve the desired level of success. Moreover, the redistribution of agricultural land has also limited role in respect of poverty alleviation.

In this connection, Dandekar and Rath observed, “However simple it may appear, it is futile to try to resolve the problem of rural poverty, in an over-populated land, by redistribution of land which is in short supply…….. (Further) any drastic lowering of the ceilings and redistribution of the surplus land to the landless workers will serve no useful purpose.”

2. Control Over Monopolies and Restrictive Trade Practices:

In order to reduce the income inequalities, the control of monopolies is considered as an important step. Initially, no attempt was made to control the growth of monopoly houses. It was only in 1969, the Monopolies and Restrictive Trade Practices Act was passed which made necessary provision for the control of monopolies and for prohibiting restrictive trade practices.

Answer 2

Public Distribution System (PDS)