Karnataka Land Reforms and Backward Classes (1950s-1970s)

Restricting the hold of the feudal class on land was the objective behind the abolition of Zamindari system. This is one of the most important land reforms. In 1955, a committee was formed under the leadership of the ex-vice president of India, B.D.Jatti. This committee made certain recommendations towards bringing about land reforms. The committee recommended that every family should be given maximum 116 acres dry land and 27 acres irrigated land. These recommendations helped the wealthy. These recommendations were implemented in 1957 but did not change the existing system in a decisive manner. But the Land Reform Law of 1974 played a decisive role in changing the existing system.

Chief Minister D. Devaraj Urs appointed the first Backward Classes Commission under the Chairmanship of L.G. Havanur in 1975. The percentage of students of different castes who passed in the S.S.L.C. examination in 1975 was taken as the criterion for determining the backwardness of those castes. As per there commendations of the Havanur report, a Government Order was issued in 1977. The Karnataka government gave the assurance that all the deficiencies in the report would be rectified. Towards that end, the T. Venkataswamy Commission was appointed in 1983. However, due to political pressures, the Venkataswamy report was not accepted by the government.

Chief Minister D. Devaraj Urs appointed the first Backward Classes Commission under the Chairmanship of L.G.Havanur in 1975. The percentage of students of different castes who passed in the S.S.L.C. examination in 1975 was taken as the criterion for determining the backwardness of those castes.

Chief Minister D. Devaraj Urs appointed the first Backward Classes Commission under the Chairmanship of L.G.Havanur in 1975. The percentage of students of different castes who passed in the S.S.L.C. examination in 1975 was taken as the criterion for determining the backwardness of those castes.

Chief Minister D. Devaraj Urs appointed the first Backward Classes Commission under the Chairmanship of L.G. Havanur in 1975. The percentage of students of different castes who passed in the S.S.L.C. examination in 1975 was taken as the criterion for determining the backwardness of those castes. As per there commendations of the Havanur report, a Government Order was issued in 1977. The Karnataka government gave the assurance that all the deficiencies in the report would be rectified. Towards that end, the T. Venkataswamy Commission was appointed in 1983. However, due to political pressures, the Venkataswamy report was not accepted by the government.

Chief Minister D. Devaraj Urs appointed the first Backward Classes Commission under the Chairmanship of L.G.Havanur in 1975. The percentage of students of different castes who passed in the S.S.L.C. examination in 1975 was taken as the criterion for determining the backwardness of those castes.

Restricting the hold of the feudal class on land was the objective behind the abolition of Zamindari system. This is one of the most important land reforms. In 1955, a committee was formed under the leadership of the ex-vice president of India, B.D.Jatti. This committee made certain recommendations towards bringing about land reforms. The committee recommended that every family should be given maximum 116 acres dry land and 27 acres irrigated land. These recommendations helped the wealthy. These recommendations were implemented in 1957 but did not change the existing system in a decisive manner. But the Land Reform Law of 1974 played a decisive role in changing the existing system.

Chief Minister D. Devaraj Urs of Karnataka appointed the first Backward Classes Commission under the Chairmanship of L.G.Havanur in 1975. The percentage of students of different castes who passed in the S.S.L.C. examination in 1975 was taken as the criterion for determining the backwardness of those castes.

Restricting the hold of the feudal class on land was the objective behind the abolition of Zamindari system. This is one of the most important land reforms. In 1955, a committee was formed under the leadership of the ex-vice president of India, B.D.Jatti. This committee made certain recommendations towards bringing about land reforms. The committee recommended that every family should be given maximum 116 acres dry land and 27 acres irrigated land. These recommendations helped the wealthy. These recommendations were implemented in 1957 but did not change the existing system in a decisive manner. But the Land Reform Law of 1974 played a decisive role in changing the existing system.

The State government of Karnataka had fixed a limit on the land a family could possess. The maximum limit of owning land was fixed by the then government. A family could have 54 acres of fertile land that had no facility of water. If the land had irrigation facility and more than one crop was being grown there, the family could have 10 to 18 acres. If it was irrigated land with only one crop being grown, each family could have maximum 27 acres. In 1977, the Inam Cancellation Act came into being.

The State government of Karnataka had fixed a limit on the land a family could possess. The maximum limit of owning land was fixed by the then government. A family could have 54 acres of fertile land that had no facility of water. If the land had irrigation facility and more than one crop was being grown there, the family could have 10 to 18 acres. If it was irrigated land with only one crop being grown, each family could have maximum 27 acres. In 1977, the Inam Cancellation Act came into being.

The State government of Karnataka had fixed a limit on the land a family could possess. The maximum limit of owning land was fixed by the then government. A family could have 54 acres of fertile land that had no facility of water. If the land had irrigation facility and more than one crop was being grown there, the family could have 10 to 18 acres. If it was irrigated land with only one crop being grown, each family could have maximum 27 acres. In 1977, the Inam Cancellation Act came into being.

Indian tenants faced many problems. These problems were: huge amount of rent to be paid, insecure land holdings and landless farm workers. In order to solve these problems, in 1974, Chief Minister of Karnataka D.Devaraj Urs brought into force a revolutionary law in Karnataka which said: The tiller is the owner of the land. Many landless people who had been cultivating the land under tenancy became landowners.

The land holdings which enable the cultivator to earn sufficient income for a comfortable life of his family after accounting for all his expenses, are called Economic holdings.The standard of life of many farmers improved after the consolidation of holdings and implementation of maximum limit on land holdings in Karnataka.

Farmers voluntarily form co-operative associations, give up their lands for collective supervision and cultivate the lands together. When the crop is harvested and sold, they set aside money for long-term development of the land and divide the rest of the money among themselves. This is called Co-operative Farming System. On account of the land reforms, it was possible for the landless to obtain right to own land, though in a small measure. The tillers rights were protected. The farmers could get at least a small amount of profit through the co-operative farming system. However, this system could not generate more support from people.

Farmers voluntarily form co-operative associations, give up their lands for collective supervision and cultivate the lands together. When the crop is harvested and sold, they set aside money for long-term development of the land and divide the rest of the money among themselves. This is called Co-operative Farming System. On account of the land reforms, it was possible for the landless to obtain right to own land, though in a small measure. The tillers rights were protected. The farmers could get at least a small amount of profit through the co-operative farming system. However, this system could not generate more support from people.

Indian tenants faced many problems. These problems were: huge amount of rent to be paid, insecure land holdings and landless farm workers. In order to solve these problems, in 1974, Chief Minister of Karnataka D.Devaraj Urs brought into force a revolutionary law in Karnataka which said: The tiller is the owner of the land. Many landless people who had been cultivating the land under tenancy became landowners.

Indian tenants faced many problems. These problems were: huge amount of rent to be paid, insecure land holdings and landless farm workers. In order to solve these problems, in 1974, Chief Minister of Karnataka D.Devaraj Urs brought into force a revolutionary law in Karnataka which said: The tiller is the owner of the land. Many landless people who had been cultivating the land under tenancy became landowners.

The land holdings which enable the cultivator to earn sufficient income for a comfortable life of his family after accounting for all his expenses, are called Economic holdings.The standard of life of many farmers improved after the consolidation of holdings and implementation of maximum  limit on land holdings in Karnataka.