Land distribution scheme: For some peasants, free land brings litigation and more problems than solutions
Recipients complain that often the land given to them is already under occupation.
A total of 2,016 acres distributed among 433 peasants in Umerkot till 2010 show that an average of less than five acres was actually given to the peasants. PHOTO: FILE
HYDERABAD:
Much has been bragged about the government’s distribution of free agricultural land among landless peasants, but an assessment of the project’s success has rarely come in the public eye. A public hearing of the peasants in Umerkot district revealed a different side of the story to the Sindh government’s claim of having transformed thousands of lives by handing over 16 to 25 acres free land.
The event, Land Hearing, was organised by Oxfam in Umerkot on Thursday which was attended by around 150 beneficiaries of the free land.
“Ironically, the free land has so far only increased our plight and made us redundant,” said Khadija Chachar, a resident of village Kadu Chachar in taluka Samaro.
Chachar claims that she was given only four acres but it was already under the possession of a landlord. “I sold my goats to hire a lawyer, hoping that I will win the case because I have the original documents given by the government.” But she regretted that her hopes were dashed and now she finds it hard to continue spending on the litigation any longer. “It involves travelling from Samaro to Mirpurkhas to attend the hearings, which also means a day’s loss of work.”
The beneficiaries like Chachar abound in Umerkot. A majority of the problems expressed at the hearing pertained to the litigation issues.
Umerkot deputy commissioner Ahmed Ali Shah acknowledged this problem. “The land that we gave to the peasants was owned by the state in the revenue records.” His statement implied that the physical possession of that land was not reviewed while handing over the ownership documents to the peasants. “A large part of Umerkot is made up of the desert and we found it hard to arrange 16 to 25 acres per peasant.” In their campaign, the Sindh government had announced to give 16 acres in the barrage areas and 25 acres in the barren areas to the landless peasants.
However, a total of 2,016 acres distributed among 433 peasants in Umerkot till 2010 show that an average of less than five acres was actually given to the peasants.
Financial woes
The peasants also face financial problems in cultivating the land. In the absence of bank loans, they are left at the mercy of the commission agents and loan sharks who charge up to 50 per cent interest per anum. Saun Bahi, who lives in village Nabi Sir, displayed her mangalsutra - a piece of jewellery worn by married Hindu women - and said it is her only worthy possession besides the land she owns.
“We have sold almost everything to cultivate our five acres of land. Our earnings are wasted over interest payments and on buying expensive farm inputs,” she claimed. Saun Bai, however, hoped that the government would provide them free inputs at least for a few initial years.
According to Aamna Pali of village Karo Pali, the big landlords steal from their water share as their lands are also located closer to the minor and water courses. The lands given to the poor peasants are mostly either at the tail-end or not connected with the irrigation network.
However, the free land distribution scheme also has some success stories, as noted by the organisers and Pakistan Peoples Party’s general secretary Taj Hyder. Hyder while defending the initiative said that the problems mentioned by the peasants will go away with time.
The development analyst and social activist, Zulfiqar Halepoto, said that the land distribution scheme will not succeed unless the government addressed these complaints. He also drew attention towards the ‘proxy ownership’ issue under which the male members of a family have the physical ownership of the land, leaving women only as titular owners.
Published in The Express Tribune, March 9th, 2013.
Much has been bragged about the government’s distribution of free agricultural land among landless peasants, but an assessment of the project’s success has rarely come in the public eye. A public hearing of the peasants in Umerkot district revealed a different side of the story to the Sindh government’s claim of having transformed thousands of lives by handing over 16 to 25 acres free land.
The event, Land Hearing, was organised by Oxfam in Umerkot on Thursday which was attended by around 150 beneficiaries of the free land.
“Ironically, the free land has so far only increased our plight and made us redundant,” said Khadija Chachar, a resident of village Kadu Chachar in taluka Samaro.
Chachar claims that she was given only four acres but it was already under the possession of a landlord. “I sold my goats to hire a lawyer, hoping that I will win the case because I have the original documents given by the government.” But she regretted that her hopes were dashed and now she finds it hard to continue spending on the litigation any longer. “It involves travelling from Samaro to Mirpurkhas to attend the hearings, which also means a day’s loss of work.”
The beneficiaries like Chachar abound in Umerkot. A majority of the problems expressed at the hearing pertained to the litigation issues.
Umerkot deputy commissioner Ahmed Ali Shah acknowledged this problem. “The land that we gave to the peasants was owned by the state in the revenue records.” His statement implied that the physical possession of that land was not reviewed while handing over the ownership documents to the peasants. “A large part of Umerkot is made up of the desert and we found it hard to arrange 16 to 25 acres per peasant.” In their campaign, the Sindh government had announced to give 16 acres in the barrage areas and 25 acres in the barren areas to the landless peasants.
However, a total of 2,016 acres distributed among 433 peasants in Umerkot till 2010 show that an average of less than five acres was actually given to the peasants.
Financial woes
The peasants also face financial problems in cultivating the land. In the absence of bank loans, they are left at the mercy of the commission agents and loan sharks who charge up to 50 per cent interest per anum. Saun Bahi, who lives in village Nabi Sir, displayed her mangalsutra - a piece of jewellery worn by married Hindu women - and said it is her only worthy possession besides the land she owns.
“We have sold almost everything to cultivate our five acres of land. Our earnings are wasted over interest payments and on buying expensive farm inputs,” she claimed. Saun Bai, however, hoped that the government would provide them free inputs at least for a few initial years.
According to Aamna Pali of village Karo Pali, the big landlords steal from their water share as their lands are also located closer to the minor and water courses. The lands given to the poor peasants are mostly either at the tail-end or not connected with the irrigation network.
However, the free land distribution scheme also has some success stories, as noted by the organisers and Pakistan Peoples Party’s general secretary Taj Hyder. Hyder while defending the initiative said that the problems mentioned by the peasants will go away with time.
The development analyst and social activist, Zulfiqar Halepoto, said that the land distribution scheme will not succeed unless the government addressed these complaints. He also drew attention towards the ‘proxy ownership’ issue under which the male members of a family have the physical ownership of the land, leaving women only as titular owners.
Published in The Express Tribune, March 9th, 2013.