Farmer organisations will conduct meetings and demonstrations across the state from May to June, to attract state government’s attention and reverse its corporate land policies.
More land reform policies favouring farmers, agricultural labourers, dalits and landless. Reversal of pro-corporate land policies. Land rights for Bagair Hukum cultivators. Repeal of unjust and coercive land acquisition acts and measures. Provision of land to the homeless and poor farmers.
These were the major demands put forward by farmers from all over Karnataka in the state level round table conference organized by Karnataka Pranth Raitha Sangha (KPRS) and All India Agricultural Workers Union (AIAWU).
At the conference, the farmer organisations decided to organise panchayat, hobli, and taluk-level land meetings across the state from May to June. A demonstration will also be held in the second week of July in Bengaluru, consisting people from various parts of the state to attract state government’s attention and reverse its corporate land policies, they said.
The conference highlighted the need for more laws and policies in favour of farmers and agricultural labourers, action against acquisition of agricultural lands for non- agricultural purposes, and unemployment faced by farmers.
Retired Supreme Court judge, Justice V. Gopal Gowda, chief speaker at the conference, said that over the years the nation has witnessed a rising number of concrete buildings built on agricultural lands.
Similarly, State President of KRPS, said that governments over the years have made efforts to simplify the process of conversion of agricultural land for non-agricultural purposes., He criticised that many non- farmers were also given opportunity to own agricultural land.
Gopal Gowda, further mentioned that the meaning of the term ‘land reforms,’ have changed from “giving land to the landless, agricultural labourers, and poor farmers, to handing over land to corporate bodies.”
According to the press release by the farmer organisations, more than 10 lakh farmers across the state, have filed application seeking proper cultivation of their Bagar Hukum. Bagar Hukum refers to government land allotted to a landless person or farmer by the government. It further mentions that the government was supposed to guarantee land rights of these farmers, however they have failed in doing so.
K. S. Anil, a lawyer based in Bengaluru, said that most farmers are illiterate and they lack awareness about their rights, which makes them vulnerable to exploitation. He added that conferences like this are important to make farmers aware about their rights and protect themselves from being exploited.
