Kerala's Land Issues Must Be Resolved Quickly

Kollam: At the 24th CPI(M) State Conference held in Kollam, K K Jayachandran introduced a resolution urging the government to take urgent and effective steps to address the longstanding land issues across Kerala. The resolution recalls the landmark land reforms of 1957, which sought to redistribute land to the landless, but were later undermined by the Congress-led “liberation struggle,” which allowed landlords to reclaim surplus land. Despite more than half a century passing since these reforms, many people, especially in Idukki district, still struggle to secure full ownership rights. Issues such as fraudulent land records, difficulties in obtaining titles for lands near rivers, and the absence of titles for land held and taxes paid before 1977 remain unresolved.

The resolution highlights the severity of land-related issues, particularly in areas like Munnar, where unauthorized constructions and encroachments were reported by Revenue Principal Secretary Nivedita P. Haran and ADGP Rajan Madhekar in 2007. Following a 2010 High Court case by the environmental group One Earth One Life, construction bans were imposed in Munnar and expanded to other villages by 2015-16. In 2023, the Kerala Assembly passed an amendment to the 1960 Land Assignment Act to address these challenges, but court rulings from the 2010 case have questioned the legality of existing titles, particularly for hill tribes, and led to a halt in further land assignments. The formation of a special bench in 2023 to resolve hill area land issues has complicated the situation, with the court questioning the validity of the 1964 Kerala Land Assignment Rules.

In response, the resolution calls for the immediate presentation of all relevant facts, including the socio-economic context of the 1964 law, government orders, and reports from the Madhav Menon and Maniyangadan Commissions to the court. It demands the validation of existing titles, the continuation of land assignments to eligible individuals, and permanent solutions to the land issues faced by the hill tribes of Munnar and Vagamon. The resolution urges the government to take swift action to resolve these issues, protect the rights of landless and marginalised communities, and uphold the principles of land reform in Kerala.

Resolution to Safeguard Kerala’s Cooperative Sector Against Central Government's Undue Interference

At the CPIM State Conference, V N Vasavan introduced a resolution urging the state government to take a strong stand against the central government’s attempts to undermine the cooperative sector. He highlighted the vital role of the cooperative movement in Kerala, emphasising that it contributes significantly to the state’s social and economic growth. The cooperative sector, particularly in the credit domain, accounts for nearly 65 percentage of India’s cooperative credit, and cooperatives have excelled in various other sectors like education, healthcare, and industry. Vasavan's resolution condemns the central government’s efforts to impose harmful regulations and laws, threatening the autonomy and stability of these institutions.

The central government's attempts to control the cooperative sector have taken various forms, including imposing new policies and departments, disregarding state jurisdiction. Under the leadership of Amit Shah, the government has tried to rewrite the cooperative sector’s history, with actions such as the 2016 demonetisation, imposing strict regulations, and promoting negative propaganda about cooperatives. The implementation of GST and actions by the Income Tax Department have further strained the sector, though the Supreme Court provided temporary relief. Moreover, the registration of multi-state cooperative societies without adequate regulation has contributed to growing economic instability. The RBI’s declaration that Kerala’s cooperative banks are not actual banks has also undermined their credibility, all of which reflect the central government’s ongoing efforts to dismantle the cooperative movement.

Vasavan’s resolution calls for the state government to take proactive steps to protect Kerala’s cooperative institutions, particularly key entities like Kerala Bank, Rabco, and Raidco. He stressed the importance of accountability within the cooperative sector, urging strict legal action against any misconduct. The resolution also emphasised the need for vigilance to prevent any efforts by the opposition or media to discredit the cooperative movement. It concludes by urging the state government to continue its efforts to safeguard and strengthen Kerala’s cooperative sector, calling for further intervention to counter the central government's unjust actions.