Committee on State Agrarian Relations
ANNEXURE – A
The Gazette of India
Extraordinary
Part I - Section I
PUBLISHED BY AUTHORITY
No. 15 NEW DELHI, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 9, 2008/PAUSA 19, 1929
MINISTRY OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT
(Department of Land Resources)
RESOLUTION
New Delhi, the 9th January, 2008
Subject : Constitution of the “Committee on State Agrarian Relations and the Unfinished Task in Land Reforms”
No.21013/4/2007-LRD –
Good governance in land administration and effective management of agrarian relations are important catalysts for poverty reduction and economic development. Socially just access to land, land related services and security of land rights are of utmost importance in achieving the desired pace and level of economic growth and sustainable development.2.Land reforms can change the current culture of exclusion so that the poor can gain access to land, credit, technology, markets and other productive services, and become active partners in the development of government policies and programmes affecting their livelihood.
3.With a view to looking into the unfinished task in land reforms, it has been decided to set up a “Committee on State Agrarian Relations and the Unfinished Task in Land Reforms”. The composition of the Committee will be as under:
1. Union Minister for Rural Development .. Chairman
2. Secretary, Department of Land Resources .. Member
Ministry of Rural Development
3. Prof. A.K. Singh .. Member
Director, Giri Institute of Development Studies
Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh
4. Shri B.K.Sinha .. Member
Director General
NIRD, Hyderabad
5. Shri K.B. Saxena (IAS Rtd) .. Member
Flat No.358, Ras Vihar Group Housing Society
Plot No.99, Patparganj, Delhi
6. Prof. P.K.Jha .. Member
School of Economic Sciences and Planning
JNU, New Delhi
7. Shri R.C.Verma .. Member
321, Guru Jambeshwar Nagar
Jaipur, Rajasthan
8. Shri Subhash Lomte .. Member
National Campaign Committee for Rural Workers
125, Samrath Nagar, Aurnagabad
Maharashtra
9. Dr.T.Haque .. Member
Ex. Chairman, CACP)
New Delhi
10. Shri Acharya Ram Murthy .. Member
B-173, Police Colony, Anisabad
Patna -02, Bihar
11. Shri Jagadananda .. Member
State Information Commissioner
Bhubaneswar-751013, Orissa
12 Ms. Neelima Khetan .. Member
Seva Mandir, Old Fatehpura
Udaipur 313004, Rajasthan
13. Shri Ram Dayal Munda .. Member
Village Hatma (Behind Ranchi College)
Morhabadi, Ranchi -834008, Jharkhand
14. Ms.Sashikala .. Member
President, Dalit Bahujan Sramil
Union, House No.01/4878/87/01
Bakaram Nagar, Gandhi Nagar
Hyderabad
15 Shri V.K.Pipersenia .. Member
Principal Secretary, Revenue Department
Govt of Assam, Dispur 781 006
16. Mrs. Vilasini Ramchandran .. Member
Pr. Secretary, Revenue Department
Govt. of Gujarat, Sachivalaya,
Ganidhinagar – 382010
17. Shri S.M. Jaamdar .. Member
Pr. Secretary, Revenue Department
Govt. of Karnataka, MS Building
Bangalore – 560 001
18. Smt. Neeta Choudhary .. Member
Pr. Secretary, Revenue Department
Govt. of Uttar Pradesh, Bapu Bhawan
Lucknow
19. Dr. P.K. Agrawal .. Member
Pr. Secretary, Land and Land Reforms Department
Govt. of West Bengal
Writers Building
Kolkata-700001
20. Additional Secretary .. Member Secretary
Department of Land Resources
Ministry of Rural Development
4. The terms of reference of the Committee shall be as follows:
i. 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.
ii. To ensure access of the poor to common property resources, suggest ways for identification, management, development and distribution of Government/ Wasteland to the landless.
iii. To review the progress of distribution of Bhoodan land in the States and suggest measures for distribution of the remaining Bhoodan land to the landless.
iv. 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.
v. To examine the 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.
vi. To examine the issue of setting up of fast track courts/mechanism for speedy disposal of land related litigation cases.
vii. 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.
viii. To examine the issues related to homestead rights and recommend measures for providing land for housing to the families without homestead land.
ix. 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.
x. Suggest institutional mechanisms for effective implementation of land reform programmes.
xi. To examine measures to provide women greater access to land and other productive assets.
xii. Any other issues of relevance.
xiii. Any other Term of Reference that may be decided by the Committee in its first meeting.
5. The Committee may visit the States and hold consultations with them in order to finalize its recommendations.
6. The Committee would make recommendations on the programme of action for effective implementation of land reforms with particular reference to the above matters in consultation with State governments/ Union Territory Administration.
7. The Committee may set up sub-groups/ task forces, if necessary, for undertaking in-depth studies on the above components of the Terms of Reference.
8. The Committee may co-opt any other official/ non-official/ experts/ representatives of other agencies.
9. The Committee will submit its final report within one year from the date of its constitution and the report will be placed before the National Council for Land Reforms for its consideration and direction.
10. The expenditure of the official members of the Committee for attending the meetings of the Committee will be borne by the respective parent Department/ Ministry/ Organizations as per the rules applicable to them. The expenditure on TA/ DA of non-official Members will be borne by the Department of Land Resources according to the appropriate rules and practices.
11. The Committee will be located in and serviced by the Department of Land Resources in the Ministry of Rural Development at New Delhi.
BHASKAR CHATTERJEE, Addl. Secy.
