Land Reforms in A.P, study material for APPSC Group I & II A.P. Economy paper

LAND REFORMS IN A.P.

With an intent to root out the middlemen between the state and the farmer the government has introduced land reforms.

From the times of past, these middlemen were used to plunder a lot of revenue paid by the farmers and lived on them. The farmers were stamped down by the middlemen in every possible way.

Even though, the government tried to keep an end to this system by completely voiding the Zamindari system after the independence, it benefited only the high and middle income sections in the rural society.

This move did hardly ever help the small and marginal farmers, landless labourers and other down trodden people. Thus the reforms did not benefit much to the intended sections of the society.

Important Issues of Land Reforms:

1.  Implementation of land ceilings
2.  Land re-distribution
3.  Reforms of tenancy
4. Tenancy Protection

Constitutional Amendments regarding Land Reforms:

Ø  1^st Constitutional Amendment Act (1951): Many Issues were brought under the 9^th schedule with this amendment among them the ones related to Andhra Pradesh are:-

·         The Hyderabad (Abolition of Jagirs) Regulation Act

·         The Hyderabad Jagirs (Commutation) Regulation Act

Ø  47^th Constitutional Amendment Act (1984): 14 Laws regarding Land Reforms were brought under this act. None is from A.P.

Ø  66^th Constitutional Amendment Act (1990): 55 Laws of different states were made under this amendment act. Those from A.P are:-

·         The A.P. Scheduled Areas Land Transfer Regulation, 1953

·         The A.P. Scheduled Areas laws (Extension and Amendment) Regulation, 1963

·         The A.P. Scheduled Areas land transfer (Amendment) Regulation, 1963

·         The A.P. Scheduled Areas land transfer (Amendment) Regulation, 1971

·         The A.P. Scheduled Areas land transfer (Amendment) Regulation, 1978.

Ø  78^th Constitutional Amendment Act (1995): Some more issues were brought under the schedule.