Joint farming boon for landless Dalits

Parvesh Sharma
Sangrur, April 17

Joint farming being undertaken by Dalit landless families in various village on reserved village common land has helped many families in not only getting required wheat for consumption, but also reaping dividends. These families have taken reserved land on annual lease by contributing money from their pocket.

Get wheat, share profit

At least 188 landless Dalits have taken 93 acres of reserved land jointly on annual lease. Each family gets five quintal wheat, while remaining crop is sold and profits shared. Avtar Singh, Member, Balad Kalan Panchayat

While the success has motivated more such families in various villages to follow suit, some allege upper caste families are trying to take the reserved land on annual lease under the name of dummy bidders, who work as their help. The Dalit families have been contributing money to pay for the expenses of land.

“Like past years, this time also joint farming has come to the rescue of at least 188 landless Dalits, who have taken around 93 acres of reserved panchayat land jointly on annual lease. Each family has got five quintal wheat and the remaining crop will be sold. All families will get their share of profit also,” said Avtar Singh, a member of Balad Kalan panchayat.

At Jhaneri village, too, 64 Dalit families are engaged in joint farming on 13 acres. Similarly, at Batriana, Gharachon and other villages, these families have formed groups and are reaping profit.

“Earlier upper caste families used to take reserved land on annual lease under the names of their helps by showing them as bidders. But now, landless Dalits are coming forward to take land on lease to cultivate crops,” says Gurmeet Singh, a resident of Gharachon.

Dalits have formed special committees, which not only ensure equitable distribution of crops, but also take steps for timely sale of ready crops.

“Landless Dalits have proved that joint farming is the best way to provide food to all. Yet they face serious problems during auction of reserved land in villages as upper caste landlords use dummy bidders to take it. The Punjab Government should come up with a policy to ensure only landless Dalits get the reserved land on annual lease,” says Mukesh Malaud, president, Zameen Prapati Sangharash Committee.

“We will ensure auction of village common land takes place as per law,” said Sangrur DC Jitendra Jorwal.