Despite new land acquisition Act, farmers remain vulnerable
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Barun
Aug 30, 2019, 4:18:49 AM8/30/19
to Property Rights in India
Despite new land acquisition Act, farmers remain vulnerable to poor compensation as many states dilute law for several sectors
Apekshita Varshney, First Post, Aug 29, 2019 15:56:24 IST
Excerpts:
With three growing children, now ages 16, 14 and 12, the money quickly dried and soon, Bhikaji had to find other sources of income. "From a landowner, I'm now earning money by being a labourer," he says.
Two years ago, six years after Shirshole and some other farmers handed over their land, construction began and the dam was fully built. But unlike what was claimed, “no farmland has sunk out of sight underwater", Shirshole says, “because it hasn't rained”
Apekshita Varshney, First Post, Aug 29, 2019 15:56:24 IST
Excerpts:
... ... ...
As the sun sets, after the temperature touches a dizzying 47° C in the afternoon, Panaj village in Maharashtra’s Akola district comes to life. Few farmers with cotton scarves knotted on their necks, gather, and a range of discussion from the monsoon, minimum selling price, genetically-modified seeds to farm-loan waivers spirals.
At some point, a farmer says, "Main kapaas ugata hoon toh puri duniya kapde pehenti hai, phir meri laash kyun kafan ke liye tarasti hai? (The cotton I grow clothes the world, then why does my corpse yearn for (the money to buy) a shroud?" Most nod gravely, some squeeze his shoulders to comfort him.
Another informs, to no one in particular, that there is a way out: Sell your land and find work in a city.
... ... ...
“The rural land market is non-existent," Lalit Bahale, a farmer from Akoli Jahangir in Akola district and a member of the Shetkari Sanghatana, says. Bahale is taking forward the legacy of the organisation’s founder Sharad Joshi who strove for free-market policies for agriculture. “In most Indian states, farmers cannot sell their land to non-farmers,” Bahale continues. "Even if farmers themselves want to buy more land, the land ceiling laws stop them.”
... ... ...
Bhikaji Shankarrao Shirshole’s 3.45 acre unirrigated land in Panaj first came under the government scanner in 2011 when vast swathes of land were being acquired for the Shahapur Bruhath dam project.
... ... he was locked out of his land where cotton was earning him roughly Rs 1 lakh a year. Then, a cheque of Rs 9 lakh was placed on his palm.
... ... ...
As the sun sets, after the temperature touches a dizzying 47° C in the afternoon, Panaj village in Maharashtra’s Akola district comes to life. Few farmers with cotton scarves knotted on their necks, gather, and a range of discussion from the monsoon, minimum selling price, genetically-modified seeds to farm-loan waivers spirals.
At some point, a farmer says, "Main kapaas ugata hoon toh puri duniya kapde pehenti hai, phir meri laash kyun kafan ke liye tarasti hai? (The cotton I grow clothes the world, then why does my corpse yearn for (the money to buy) a shroud?" Most nod gravely, some squeeze his shoulders to comfort him.
Another informs, to no one in particular, that there is a way out: Sell your land and find work in a city.
... ... ...
“The rural land market is non-existent," Lalit Bahale, a farmer from Akoli Jahangir in Akola district and a member of the Shetkari Sanghatana, says. Bahale is taking forward the legacy of the organisation’s founder Sharad Joshi who strove for free-market policies for agriculture. “In most Indian states, farmers cannot sell their land to non-farmers,” Bahale continues. "Even if farmers themselves want to buy more land, the land ceiling laws stop them.”
... ... ...
Bhikaji Shankarrao Shirshole’s 3.45 acre unirrigated land in Panaj first came under the government scanner in 2011 when vast swathes of land were being acquired for the Shahapur Bruhath dam project.
... ... he was locked out of his land where cotton was earning him roughly Rs 1 lakh a year. Then, a cheque of Rs 9 lakh was placed on his palm.
... ... ...
With three growing children, now ages 16, 14 and 12, the money quickly dried and soon, Bhikaji had to find other sources of income. "From a landowner, I'm now earning money by being a labourer," he says.
Two years ago, six years after Shirshole and some other farmers handed over their land, construction began and the dam was fully built. But unlike what was claimed, “no farmland has sunk out of sight underwater", Shirshole says, “because it hasn't rained”
... ...
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