Date:14/08/2004 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2004/08/14/stories/2004081404020300.htm

Andhra Pradesh - Anantapur

Land sought for poor farmers

By Our Staff Reporter

ANANTAPUR, AUG. 13. The district president of AP Vyavasaya Karmika Sangham, K.V. Ramana, has demanded that the State Government distribute land among the landless poor. He warned that the poor would forcibly occupy the lands if the Government failed to respond.

Talking to newspersons here today, he said there were about 12 lakh farm workers in the district, mostly Dalits and backward classes.

Their number was increasing every year due to reckless agricultural reforms, he said.

`No food either'

Also, food availability has come down due to reduction in subsidies to the public distribution system.

The poor now fall prey to malnutrition, ill-health and premature death due to hunger, Mr. Ramana said.

Only creation of economic resources and enhancement of credit facility would help the poor, he observed.

Distribution of land was one of the basic economic resources, he said, adding that it would also raise their social status.

`Futile Acts'

Despite bringing out Land Reforms Act, 1973, Tenancy Act, 1953, and Assignment Act, 1977, a majority of the 1.5 crore farm workers in the State still remained landless, he stated.

Mr. Ramana said there was sufficient land available for distribution among the landless in Anantapur. Each landless family could be given at least three to five acres of fallow lands. The APVKS was organising a meet on the issue of land distribution here on August 16.