National Land Reforms Committee

In January 2008 the Prime Minister officially approved the members and the Terms of Reference.  The National Land Reforms Committee is responsible for the creation of a new National Land Reforms Policy that will ensure that land reform is central to state government agendas and will introduce public policy measures that will help bring an end to poverty and achieve a more egalitarian society.  The Committee will oversee the implementation of the National Land Reforms Policy and provide an annual progress report to Parliament and all state legislators.

Some of the responsibilities given to the Committee are to examine issues relating to alienation of tribal lands including traditional rights of the forest-dependant tribals  and  to  suggest  realistic  measures  including  changes required  in  the  relevant  laws  for  restoration  of  such  lands  to  them.    The Committee  will  also  examine  the  issue  of  setting  up  of  fast-track  courts/mechanism  for  speedy  disposal  of  land-related  litigation  cases  as well  as  recommend measures  to  prevent/minimize  conversion  of agricultural land for non-agricultural purposes consistent with development needs  of  the  country  and  examine  measures  to  provide  women  greater access to land and other productive assets.

Committee Members:
1. Minster for Rural Development (Chairman)
2. Secretary, Department of Land Resources, Ministry of Rural Development
3. Prof. A.K. Singh, Director, Giri Institute of Development Studies
4. Shri B.K. Sinha, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Panchayati Raj
5. Shri K.B. Saxena, Former Secretary, GoI
6. Prof. P.K. Jha, School of Economic Sciences and Planning, JNU
7. Shri R.C. Verma
8. Shri Subhash Lomte, National Campaign Committee for Rural Workers
9. Dr. T. Haque, Chairman, Commission on Agricultural Costs and Prices
10. Shri Acharya Ram Murthy
11. Shri Jagadananda, Member Secretary, Centre for Youth and Social Development
12. Ms. Neelima Khetan
13. Shri Ram Dayal Munda
14. Ms. Sashikala, President, Dalit Bahujan Sramik
15. Shri V.K. Pipersenia, Pr. Secretary, Revenue Department, Govt. of Assam
16. Mrs. Vilasani Ramchandran, Pr. Secretary, Revenue Department, Govt. of Gujarat
17. Shri S.M. Jaamdar, Pr. Secretary, Revenue Department, Govt. of Karnataka
18. Smt. Neeta Choudhary, Pr. Secretary, Revenue Department, Govt. of Uttar Pradesh
19. Dr. P.K. Agrawal, Pr. Secretary, Land and Land Reforms Department, Govt. of West Bengal
20. Ramesh Sharma, Ekta Parishad
21. Shri B N Yugandhar, Planning Commission, Government of India
22. Additional Secretary, Department of Land Resources, Ministry of Rural Development (Member Secretary)

Terms of Reference of the Committee are the following;
a. To conduct in-depth review of the land ceiling programme in the country including status of distribution of land declared surplus, continued possession by the rural poor of the allotted land and expeditious disposal of land declared surplus but held up due to litigation and to suggest appropriate and effective strategies in this regard.

b. To ensure access of the poor to common property resources, suggest ways for identification, management, development and distribution of Government/wasteland to the landless.

c. To review the progress of distribution of Bhoodan landing the States and suggest measures for distribution of the remaining Bhoodan land to the landless.

d. To examine the issue of tenancy and sub-tenancies and suggest measures for recording of all agricultural tenants and a framework to enable cultivators of land to lease in and lease out with suitable assurances for fair rent, security of tenure and right to resumption.

e. To examine issues relating to alienation of tribal lands including traditional rights of the forest-dependant tribals and to suggest realistic measures including changes required in the relevant laws for restoration of such lands to them.

f. To examine the issue of setting up of fast-track courts/mechanism for speedy disposal of land-related litigation cases.

g. To look into the land use aspects, particularly the agricultural land, and recommend measures to prevent/minimize conversion of agricultural land for non-agricultural purposes consistent with development needs of the country.

h. To examine the issues related to homestead rights and recommend measures for providing land for housing to the families without homestead land.

i. To suggest measures for modernization of land management with special reference to updating of land records, proper recording of land rights and speedy resolution of conflicts and disputes relating to land.

j. Suggest institutional mechanisms for effective implementation of land reform programmes.