Number of questions- Mains: 02, Prelims – 10
Mains Questions of the day:
1.Explain the Telangana’s podu lands issue of Telangana Government.
Introduction:
Mention the podu land issue of Telangana Government.
Body:
Mention the Government measures to solve that problem and mention the impact of that move.
Conclusion:
- Deforestation, losing fertility of land and soil erosion are the problem of Podu system of cultivation.
- We can overcome these problems thorough Government measures by conservation of agro-biodiversity, especially the local and native crop species and varieties.
Content:
The Telangana government has decided to move landless, non-tribal farmers engaged in Podu shifting cultivation inside forests to peripheral areas as it wants to combat deforestation.
Podu:
- Podu is a traditional system of cultivation used by tribes in India, whereby different areas of jungle forest are cleared by burning each year to provide land for crops.
- Podu is a form of shifting agriculture using slash-and-burn methods.
Issue in Telangana:
- Shifting cultivation continues to be a predominant agricultural practice in many parts of India, despite state discouragement and multipronged efforts.
- Telangana government has controlled the encroachment of forests by non-tribals, who are indulging in the practice of shifting agriculture (podu).
- Several political leaders have raised the issues of shifting agriculture and deforestation wherein encroachers clear a portion of land.
- The government now wants to shift out all farmers from the forests to the periphery by allotting lands to them for cultivation.
Impact of the move
- Tribal farmers who have been traditionally cultivating for decades will not be affected by this.
- This is against illegal encroachers.
- The government has in fact, given land ownership titles to tribals.
- Other encroaching farmers will be shifted out.
2.Explain why the Telangana Government wants the Centre to amend Scheduled Tribes & Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (RoFR) Act, 2006 to end podu lands issue.
Introduction:
Explain the Centre’s Scheduled Tribes & Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (RoFR) Act, 2006.
Body:
Mention the reasons why Telangana Government want to amend that Act.
Conclusion:
- The podu land issue will be resolved, only when the Centre Government should:
- amend the Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act and
- also increase the cut-off date.
- The Centre Government should to take a policy decision so that the Telangana non-tribals too would get relief along with the Telangana tribals.
Content:
- As per State government recent data, around 3lakh farmers were engaged in podu cultivation across Telangana state in that
- 62% are tribals and
- 38% are non-tribals.
- Podu is a traditional system of land cultivation used by tribes in Telangana, whereby different areas of jungle forest are cleared by burning each year to provide land for crops.
- Podu is a form of shifting agriculture using slash-and-burn methods.
- The Recognition of Forest Rights Act (RoFR Act) or 1/70 Act of the Central government would allow the State government to give pattas(legal rights over forest land) to tribals.
- The RoFR Act, 2006, which puts the cut-off date as December 13, 2005, the tribes who were in forest before the cutoff date will eligible to get government pattas.
- As per Act, the State government provided rights to 96,600 farmers over forest lands in 2008.
- If the existing Act, was implemented only a few number of tribals would be benefited.
- The State government, which implemented the act received around 3 lakh applications seeking Podu pattas for tribal land.
- But due to lack of data, some tribals who were in possession of lands before 2005 did not get pattas.
- Besides tribals, some non-tribals who were occupied the forest lands after 2005 and cultivating forest lands are also seeking pattas.
- Pattas for non-tribals would be given only if they show proof that they have been cultivating the lands for the past 75 years.
- Thus a large number of tribals and non-tribals would be denied rights over lands if the Act was implemented.
- So Telangana Government wants the Centre should relax some conditions, so that state is enabled to give pattas to tribals and non-tribals as well.
- In addition, the State government also requested the Centre to increase the cut-off date.
- The podu land issue will be permanently resolved only if the Centre amended the existing Act.
- Till then, the State is helpless and unable to do justice to tribals.
Prelims questions of the day:
1.What are Bethai and Gallamatha terms in the context of Telangana?
- Fertile lands
- Tenancy systems
- Irrigation techniques
- Land tax
Answer: B
Explanation:
Bethai, Gallamaktha and Sarf-e-khas were the three forms of tenancy Systems that existed in Telangana.
2.Consider the following:
- Area
- Crop
- Irrigation
Which of the above features were considered in deciding the ceiling limit in Andhra Pradesh Ceiling on Agricultural Holdings Act, 1961?
- 2 and 3
- 1 and 2
- Only 3
- All of them
Answer: D
Explanation:
Based on the area, crop and irrigation, the act specified the ceiling between 27, to 32 acres per family.
3.Consider the following statements about A.P. Land Reforms (Ceiling on Agricultural Holdings) Act, 1973
- The basic unit was changed from individual to family.
- A family consisting of four members would be treated as the unit of ceiling.
Which of the above statements are correct?
- Only 2
- Only 1
- Both of them
- None of them.
Answer: B
Explanation:
- A.P. Land Reforms (Ceiling on Agricultural Holdings) Act, 1973
- The basic unit was changed from individual to family. A family should not have land more than standard holding. A family consisting of five members would be treated as the unit of ceiling Consisting of a wife, husband, and three minor children.
4.In Nizam Hyderabad state, payment of rent in the form of cash was known as?
- Sarf-e-khas
- Bethai
- Gallamaktha
- Inam
Answer: A
Explanation:
Payment of rent as a-specified part of the produce by the tenant (EX: 14th or 15th of the produce) was known of Bethai. Rent paid in certain quantity: (Ex: 3 or 4 bags per acre) irrespective of the produce was Gallamaktha and, payment of rent in the form of cash was known as Sarf-I- Khas
5.Consider the following statements:
- Assigned lands are the Government lands distributed by it to individuals, institutions
- market value or free of cost.
- The lands and house sites allocated at free of cost by the Government to the poor can be treated as assigned lands.
Which of the above statements are incorrect?
- 2 only
- Only 1
- Both of them
- None of them
Answer: D
Explanation:
Assigned lands are the Government lands distributed by it to individuals, institutions market value or free of cost.
This program was introduced with a spirit to distribute Government assigned lands to the poor families. “The lands and house sites allocated at free of cost by the Government to poor” can be treated as assigned lands.
6.Consider the following statements:
- There was strong control over the tribal areas in Telangana during the Nizam rule in the 18th Century
- The entry of Britishers liberalised this control
Which of the above statements is/are correct?
- 2 only
- Only 1
- Both of them
- None of them
Answer: D
Explanation:
There was no connection between plains and tribal areas in Telangana during the Nizam rule in the 18th Century.
This was clearly due to the non-interference of the Nizam Government in the living conditions of tribal’s. The situation changed drastically with the British’ control and domination of Nizam’s territory.
With the measures initiated in the 1920s and 1930s by the British Government in the name of protection of forest lands, the tribal’s in majority districts and Gonds of Adilabad district, in particular, faced a tough time to protect their lands from British colonial rule.
7.Which of the following committee was constituted by the then Nizam Government in 1937 to give apt suggestions to rectify the problems of tenants?
- Ranga Rao committee
- Barucha Committee
- Prakasham committee
- Hyderabad Agrarian reforms committee
Answer: B
Explanation:
In view of these miserable conditions of the tenants, the then Nizam Government constituted Barucha Committee in 1937 to give apt suggestions to rectify the problems of tenants.
8.Consider the following pairs
Act Year
- Hyderabad Notified Tribal Areas Regulation Act 1949
- A.P. (Scheduled Areas) Land Transfer Regulation 1959
- Assigned lands (prohibition of transfers) act 1977
How many pairs matched correctly?
- Only one
- Only two
- Only three
- None of them
Answer: C
Explanation:
All of them are correctly matched
9.Consider the following statements:
- A Land Committee was constituted in 2004 by the Government of Andhra Pradesh on the Distribution of Assigned Lands.
- This committee categorically recommended that approval of Gram Sabha and participation of people of the concerned village and particularly the poor and, weaker sections in the process as mandatory.
Which of the above statements is/are correct?
- 2 only
- Only 1
- Both of them
- None of them
Answer: C
Explanation:
A Land Committee was constituted in 2004 by the Government of Andhra Pradesh under the chairmanship of Sri Koneru Ranga Rao, and the committee submitted its report in 2006 (GOAP, 2006). This committee categorically recommended that approval of Gram Sabha and participation of people of the concerned village and particularly the poor and, weaker sections in the process as mandatory.
10.According to Barucha committee, the peasants uninterruptedly cultivating the land for a period of 12 or more years can be conferred with occupancy rights. They were known as?
- Bethai
- Aasarni shikmidar
- Aasarni
- Shikmidar
Answer: D
Explanation:
- In view of these miserable conditions of the tenants, the then Nizam Government constituted Barucha Committee in 1937 to give apt suggestions to rectify the problems of tenants.
- The committee recommended that the peasants uninterruptedly cultivating the land for a period of 12 or more years can be conferred with occupancy rights (all types of legal protection)
- They were known as ‘Shikmidar’. Other tenants without such occupancy rights were identified as ‘AaSarni Shikmidar. However, the recommendations of the committee could not be implemented due to the prevailing socio-political fluidity.