Land reform in Kerala

Land reform in Kerala refers to a series of legislative and administrative measures implemented to restructure the agrarian system and dismantle the centuries-old feudal Janmi-Kudiyan system in the Indian state of Kerala.

History

Janmi-kudiyan System

The Hirerarchy of the Jami-kudiyan system:

• Janmi (Landlord) is the absolute onwer of the land.Tradionally Nambudiri and Nair.
• Kanakkaran (Intermediaries):Tenants who leased land from Jenmis and sub-leased it to others.
• Kudiyan (Tenant) is cultivators and leasing the land.They faced insecurity and rent ranging from 35% to 75% of the produce.
• Kudikidappukar (Hutment Dweller) is landless labourers , who lived in small huts on landload's property. They lacked any legal right to their house site.

Legal Status

Before the unification of Keralain 1956, the three constituent regions - Malabar, Kochi, Travancore - oprated under distinct administrative and land tenure system.

Malabar

A district of Madras Presidency, British laws applicable here.

• Janmi Dominance: The british legal system misinterpreted Janmom (birth) rights as private property,giving landlords legal backing to evict tenants arbitrarily.
• Verumpattakaran (Tenants-at-will): Who held land on short -term oral leases and faced constant theats of eviction (Melcharthu).
• Malabar Tenancy Act, 1929 : Severe agrarian distress in Malabar led to frequent uprisings, most notably the Malabar Rebellion , which eventually faced the british to pass the malabar tenancy act 1929.

Cochin Princely State

Land divided into Sirkar (State onwed) and Janmon (Feudal)

• Verumpattamdars Act 1943:Providing fixity of tenure to a large section of cultivators.

Travancore Princly State

• Pattom Proclamation,1865:Often called the "Magna Carta of the Travancore Ryots," this decree converted the state owned (Sirkar) land into private property for the cultivators, creating a class of indeprndent peasant proprietors early on.
• Jemikaram: While tenants on janmom lands (private estates) still faced issues the Jemikaram abolition Act,1958 eventually converted their feudal dues into a fixed payment to the state, effectively ending the landlord's direct control.

Major Legislation

• Stay of Eviction Proceedings Ordinance,1957: An immediate measure to halt the arbitrary removal of tenants while comprehensive laws were drafted.
• Kerala Agrarian Relations Bill,1957: The First attempt at fixity of tenure and land ceiling,by K. R. Gowri Amma minister in the first EMS government. ^[1] . The Agrarian Relations Act, which had been sent back by the President for reconsideration, was amended and passed by the Kerala Assembly in October 1960 but was subsequently declared unconstitutional by the High Court.
• The compensation for tenant's Improvement Act,1958: Provided legal backing for tenants to receive compensation for improvements (like irrigation or building) made to the land.
• Jenmikaram Abolition Act (1958): Aimed at abolishing feudal dues (Jenmikaram) paid by tenants to landlords in the Travancore and Cochin regions.
• Kerala Land Reforms (KLR) Act, 1963: A comprehensive act that established the machinery for implementation, including fixing fair rents and establishing land ceilings for individual holdings.
• Land Reforms (Amendment) Act, 1969: The definitive legislation that effectively ended landlordism by transferring ownership to cultivating tenants and granting ownership of homesteads to Kudikidappukars. ^[2]

Socio-Ecomic impacts

• Soical Justices: Homestead ownership freed labourers from eviction threats, giving them labor- market bargaining power and economic wellbeing.
• Human Development: Economic security allowed investment in education and health leading to high literacy and life expectancy.

Disadvantage

• Fragmentation:The redistribution of land into tiny parcels made large-scale commercial farming difficult.
• Productivity:Small holders lacked the capital to maintain high yields, Leading an inefficient use of soil.

References

1. Staff Reporter (18 February 2008). "Land Reforms Act no longer relevant, says Industries Secretary". thehindu.com. The Hindu.
2. Kiran, K P Sai (4 November 2012). "KLR Act amendment could grave situation for result fragment of estatesplantation sector". timesofindia.indiatimes.com. The Times of India.