A round-table held on ‘Andhra Pradesh Women Self Help Groups (SHGs) (Leasing of Agricultural Land) Draft Bill' here on Sunday passed a resolution asking the government to issue ownership rights to beneficiaries instead of giving land on lease.
The Andhra Pradesh Vyavasaya Karmika Sangham and the Andhra Pradesh Mahila Samakhya, both affiliated to the CPI, organised the round-table.
CPI State secretary K. Narayana, who addressed the discussion, derided the draft Bill and scoffed at the government's policies in respect of distribution of land to the landless poor.
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The government was not sincere in implementing the recommendations of the Cabinet sub-committee headed by Koneru Ranga Rao for distribution of land to the landless.
About 70 lakh acres of land, including those falling under the categories of surplus, banjar, endowments, inam and bhoodan, was available in the State.
The government was not sincere in implementing the recommendations and distributing the land, he alleged.
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Mr. Narayana said that the draft Bill was not in favour of the landless poor.
It clearly states that the government would take back the land anytime, which was against the interests of the poor.
“The ownership rights should be given to the beneficiaries,” he asserted.
The CPI leader came down heavily on the office of Chief Commissioner of Land Administration (CCLA), describing it as “useless and hopeless”.
The CCLA only creates hurdles instead of solving land issues, he said.
MLC and general secretary of the Andhra Pradesh Vyavasaya Karmika Sagham Jelli Wilson, Andhra Pradesh Mahila Samakhya general secretary K. Aruna, CPI (M) district secretary V. Umamaheswara Rao, TDP leader Raghava and others spoke.