Peasants renew call for land reform in 25-point convention charter

Speakers said development of an egalitarian economy not possible without land reforms.

MULTAN: The third Peasants’ National Convention, organised by the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP), on Tuesday reiterated the peasants’ and farm workers’ demand for land reform and recognition of farming community’s rights.

The convention was of the view that land reforms were needed for a genuine democracy, development of an egalitarian economy and elimination of uneven social relations.

The convention decided that it was necessary to remove legal and political obstacles to land reforms.

“It is necessary to transfer all lands still in state possession to landless tenants and give ownership rights to cultivators who have been working on military lands and seed farms for generations,” a statement issued after the convention said.

The 25-point charter of demands adopted at the convention said all state lands must be distributed among landless peasants; landless families should be given 15 acres of cultivable land each or equivalent thereof; women workers should be given land equal in size to men’s share; the 1977 land reform law be updated; Obstacles to land reforms be removed and necessary legislation adopted expeditiously; a five-year plan for uplift of agriculture sector should be launched; framework for peasants’ organisation be strengthened; farm workers should be allowed the right to form trade unions in accordance with the International Labour Organisation conventions and fair wages guaranteed to them; agricultural workers should have the same rights as industrial workers; children of agricultural workers be guaranteed free education; agricultural workers should be guaranteed an adequate medical cover; rights of agriculture workers affected by floods, wars or conflicts along the borders be fully protected; small peasant proprietors’ needs be met; Prices of agricultural produce be linked with inflation; Small owner-cultivators should be given insurance cover and field-to-market road links and transport facilities should be guaranteed.

The convention also said small cultivators whose lands had been swallowed up by rivers be given alternative lands.

They said when residential colonies were built on agricultural land, tenants should be compensated along with landowners.

The convention demanded that a judicial commission be set up to probe fraudulent allotments; land-grabbing by landlords in Sindh and Balochistan be stopped and housing colonies should be built for the peasants.

The convention said Balochistan’s land record should be computerised.

The participants said canal water should be evenly distributed and grievances about discrimination in water supplies in south Punjab should be resolved.

They said where canal water was not available, water flowing down hill torrents should be conserved by the state.

They said ownership of lands held under military or seed farm schemes in Okara and Khanewal must be transferred to cultivators.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 20^th, 2014.