National Council for Land Reforms && JAN SATYAGRAHA MOVEMENT

WHAT IS the National Council for Land Reforms?

The Government of India constituted in January, 2008, a National Council for Land Reforms comprising eminent people drawn from different walks of life and with the Prime Minister as the Chairman.  Simultaneously, a Committee on State Agrarian Relations and the Unfinished Task in Land Reforms was also constituted. The Committee was divided into seven sub-groups and each focused on an important dimension of land reforms.

Each of the sub-groups made visits to several States. The National Institute of Rural Development (NIRD) conducted a quick survey in 15 States, and one separately for all the States of the North East. This report is based on the Reports of the Committees, the State Reports, observations made during the field visits of the Committee, published material and the reports of Committees appointed earlier in some of the State. The report is organised in seven chapters each reflecting of the respective Sup-Groups.

*********************************************************************************

What is the JAN SATYAGRAHA MOVEMENT ?

Jan Satyagraha 2012 is a non-violent foot march organised by Ekta Parishad, on 350 km between Gwalior and Delhi. The march started at Gwalior on October 2nd, 2012, and is scheduled to arrive in Delhi on October 29th, 2012. Jan Satyagraha means the people's non-violent resistance.

What are their objectives ?

The objective is to obtain a comprehensive National Land Reforms Act and effective implementation and monitoring institutions to provide access to land and livelihood resources to the poor landless, homeless and marginalized communities. 

Ekta Parishad is also demanding implementation of PESA (Panchayat- Extension to Schedule Areas Act) in tribal areas so that local population has a say in how the land and natural resources in their respective areas is used., and also setting up of fast-track courts to settle thousands of land disputes pending in the civil court.

Implementation of FOREST RIGHTS ACT .

WHAT IS THE CURRENT STATUS ?

On October 8th, a Ekta Parishad delegation met again Jairam Ramesh in New Delhi. An agreement was reached with the government of India, therefore the march stopped at Agra. The two major points of the agreement are:

• the establishment of a draft national land reforms policy in the next 6 months, which should be finalised soon thereafter.
• the adoption of a legal provision to provide agriculture land to landless people and homestead land to homeless people