Most of the land allotted to Dalits under several government schemes have now come into the hands of others. Though the reasons for the transfer of land in many cases are not convincing, it is looked at as yet another right violation against the Dalits.
A study undertaken by Evidence, a Madurai-based human rights organisation, has revealed that Dalits have parted with their lands across the State for various reasons — for a loan of Rs. 300 taken in Devinayakkanpatti of Dindigul district, and for arrack in Melpandal village of Villupuram district. The study was undertaken in April-May in Madurai, Dindigul, Theni, Thanjavur, Tiruvarur, Nagapattinam, Namakkal, Coimbatore, Ariyalur, Perambalur, Villupuram, Cuddalore and Kancheepuram districts, covering 300 Dalits who were affected by some form of land-holding right violation.
Eighty-two per cent of them were affected by caste Hindus; 1.7 per cent by caste Christians; 7.5 per cent by private organisations; 1.7 per cent by the church; and six per cent by the government. About five per cent of them had lost over 10 acres of land; 56 per cent lost one to five acres of land; and 18 per cent were deprived of land below 10 cents in area.
The study, according to A. Kathir, Executive Director, found that takeover of land from Dalits had increased in the last decade. Eighty Dalits had lost their holdings before 1970; 59 between 1970 and 1980; 44 in 1981-90; 41 in 1991-2000 and 76 in 2001-10. Among the 300 Dalits, land had been given to 195 by the government and 90 purchased their own. The rest got their land as gift. As per information provided by the samples; 93 lost their land for low prices; 42 for material benefits; 98 for loans taken by them and 40 for the interest on loans. Five Dalits had lost their land for food; five for liquor and 30 for food grains.
In 182 cases, the lost lands have transformed into cultivable land of caste Hindus; 48 have become residential areas; industrial units are located in the lands of five Dalits; government buildings have come up in the lands of four; roads cross over the lands of three; temples have sprung up over the lands of five; and commercial complexes have come up in four.
Mr. Kathir said that 240 Dalits testified in the survey that they were victims of atrocities during takeover of land. Police complaints had been lodged in 65 incidents on which only 15 first information reports (FIR) were filed. The accused had been arrested in two cases. Thirty-eight cases were in various stages in courts. Among them, two cases were pending for the past 30 years and 18 for about five years.
Call for whiter paper
Evidence, in its report, demanded a white paper on the status of panchami lands in the State and constitution of a tribunal to hear complaints of takeover of lands owned by Dalits. The State government should cancel all registration of lands owned by Dalits in others' names and ensure that the right to ownership becomes unassailable in future. Orders should be passed to register cases of land grab from Dalits under SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, it said.
