Question

The Kerala Land Reforms Act, 1963, aimed primarily to:

• A. Promote large-scale commercial agriculture
• B. Abolish tenancy and provide land ownership to tenants
• C. Increase landholdings of landlords
• D. Allow privatization of forest lands

Answer 1

Answer:

B. Abolish tenancy and provide land ownership to tenants

• The Kerala Land Reforms Act, 1963, primarily aimed to:

  • Restructure land ownership and promote equitable distribution: This was done by transferring land from feudal landlords (who held land in excess of prescribed ceiling limits) to the actual cultivators.

  • Abolish feudalism and landlordism: The Act sought to eliminate the traditional landlord-tenant system and the exploitation associated with it.

  • Grant ownership rights to cultivating tenants: A revolutionary feature, it empowered those who actually worked the land by giving them the right to own it.

  • Impose a ceiling on land holdings: This prevented the concentration of land ownership in the hands of a few and allowed for the redistribution of surplus land to the landless.

  • Ensure fixity of tenure and protection from eviction: It provided security to tenants, safeguarding their livelihoods.

  • Reduce inequalities and promote economic development: By addressing historical injustices in land ownership, the Act aimed to improve the socioeconomic status of rural communities and foster a more egalitarian society.