(a) whether the measures for land reforms in the Eleventh Five Year Plan was taken up for
upliftment of rural areas;
(b) if so, the details of achievements made in this regard, State-wise;
(c) whether the Planning Commission has expressed its dissatisfaction in regard to the work
done and achievements made; and
(d) the reaction of the Government thereto and the action proposed to be taken by the
Government in this regard?
MINISTER OF STATE FOR RURAL DEVELOPMENT(SHRI SISIR KUMAR ADHIKARI)
(a)to (d): Land and its management falls within the exclusive legislative and administrative
jurisdiction of the respective States as provided under Entry No. 18 of List – II (State list) of
the Seventh Schedule to the Constitution. The role of the Central Government in the field of
Land Reforms is only of an advisory and Coordinating nature. However, implementation of
Land Reforms Programmes is reviewed from time to time at various fora including
Conferences of Revenue Ministers and Revenue Secretaries of the States/UTs organized by
the Department. The State Governments/UT Administrations have been requested from time
to time for effective implementation of land reform programmes/schemes including
distribution of ceiling surplus land. Based on the information received from the States/UTs,
the details of the ceiling surplus land distributed State-wise are indicated in Annexure – I.
The subject matter has, however, been considered at the highest level. In order to get
comprehensive recommendations on the matter, the following two high level bodies were
constituted.
i) A “Committee on State Agrarian Relations and the unfinished Task in Land Reforms†was
constituted under the Chairmanship of Minister of Rural Development.
ii) Aâ€National Council for Land Reforms†Constituted under the Chairmanship of the Prime
Minister.
The composition, terms of reference, etc. of the Committee and the Council
were notified in the Official Gazette on 9th January, 2008. The Committee has since
submitted its Report. The Report of the Committee is being examined by the Committee
of Secretaries (CoS) before it is placed before the ‘National Council for Land Reforms’
constituted under the Chairmanship of the Prime Minister for its consideration and
directions. The Council may lay down broad guidelines and policy recommendations on
land reforms, based on the recommendations of the Committee.
This Department has not received any communication from the Planning
Commission expressing their dissatisfaction in this regard.