ADF calls for Kerala land reforms to prioritise the landless

The Ambedkarite Democratic Front has urged Kerala's government to legislate for land distribution to landless residents. The Hindu reported the resolution by the coalition of more than 50 organisations on October 9.

The coalition wants land allocated to Adivasi communities, Dalits and plantation workers. ADF general convener M. Geethanandan said reclaiming plantations allegedly held illegally through forged documents should be a priority.

ADF warns that the Land Reforms 2.0 initiative could facilitate the transfer of plantation land to corporate owners and real estate interests instead of addressing landlessness. That is the coalition's position and its assessment of the risks associated with the proposed changes.

The organisation wants the existing committee replaced by a broader commission. Its proposed membership includes economists, academics, environmental researchers, disaster management specialists, lawyers, sociologists, Forest department representatives and members of affected communities.

The coalition claims that about 66% of the state's cultivable land has become plantations. Citing the Rajamanickam Commission's work, it seeks scrutiny not only in Central Travancore, where it says plantation land exceeds 500,000 acres, but also in Wayanad, Palakkad and Malappuram.

ADF opposes raising the land ceiling and wants government-owned plantations distributed among the landless. Its resolution also calls for protection of forest and traditional land rights, wetlands and the Western Ghats. The organisation fears that tourism and commercial projects could displace traditional communities.