Access to land is crucial for reducing poverty and ensuring food security. It is a critical source of livelihood and contributes to one’s identity and dignity in the community. But, the pattern of land distribution among different social groups would exhibit that Dalits have been, by and large, excluded from getting adequate access to land ownership. In order to empower the marginalised and improve their well-being, development organisations explore ways of improving access to land resources for the rural poor. Provision of assured land rights to households would bring social benefits by facilitating proper use of land, an incentive for hard work and access to livelihood.

One of the major constraints to development in India is land scarcity and perhaps it has been so in the past too. Local bodies were, traditionally, the repositories of what is called ‘common resources.’ In the name of development in rural India, the poor are deceived off their meagre land possession in a subtle manner. The very existence of those who work or depend on the land resource is obviously the first to be affected when they are alienated from this resource. Corporatisation and Chemical farming are the major culprits. Agricultural productivity declined due to loss of soil nutrients and has resulted in low income, low food supply and low nutrition intake among rural poor. Though farmers have adequate knowledge of land degradation, they do not have enough support to invest in soil and water conservation. Losing hope in agriculture and with the misconstrued idea of urbanisation, many rural poor migrate to urban areas. Because of this trend land is voluntarily transferred from very small landholders to affluent. 

Land governance and finding a way forward for improving access to land for the land-poor especially Dalit households are the inspirations gained by Santhom SSS (SSSS) during the implementation of Land and Water Conservation project Thulir. Hence in the continued reformation process through Ezhuvom Iyakkam Cancer Care Campaign, SSSS organised groups that included small peasants and landless labourers for a concerted agriculture production measure.

The gravity of landlessness became evident during COVID 19 lockdown when, rural poor Dalits in Belladhi Panchayat of Karamadai Block of Coimbatore district did not have job, money and access to their own production. Seeing their plight, SSSS came forward to allocate 80 cents land for cultivation and announced that it would provide 2 cents of land to each of those who are interested in farming. But the condition was that they should refrain from chemical farming. Locally available organic wastes were suggested for use as manure.

In the month of July, 15 persons including 13 women came forward and they were provided two cent land each with needed water facilities. Quality seed varieties sourced from reputed nurseries were provided to the farmers. Each person cultivates 3-4 varieties and no two adjacent plots grow the same vegetables. They grow onion, brinjal, tomato, pulses, beans, chilli, lady’s finger and greens. So far, on an average, each one could get 8-10 Kg vegetables.

Ms. Patla, one of the cultivators opined that the organic produce cultivated through her own efforts is tastier and gives her happiness. She sells the excess produce among the villagers which is a source of income for her family. Tasting success from this experimentation, she and four of her co-workers have planned to take a bigger piece of land on lease and continue agriculture activities.

“I receive inspiration from Major Archbishop Cardinal George Allenchery who said, even small piece of land in the premises of the church compound should be used for cultivation and promotion of agriculture practices which could only provide sustainable growth for humanity in this modern era. I am thankful to Caritas India and its Manager- Dr. John Arokiaraj for the motivation and simple practical ideas given through Thulir Project for land and water conservation measures. Ezhuvom Iyyakkam – Cancer Care Campaign has taken us one step forward in propagating the bad effects of chemical fertilizers and consequent deteriorating health. We are working on the concept of produce your own healthy food for your consumption and healthy living” said Fr. George K, Director of Santhom Social Service Society.