Land and Water Reform: The Basis for Changing Rural Society from Poverty to Prosperity

The book offers an alternative policy perspective for development of India. It spells out specific measures for equitable distribution of land and water resources in rural India. The book came into existence against the background of a transforming India almost at the far end of the last century. Since early 1980s Indian elite had started admitting the failures of the socialistic model of development. They were gradually but definitely capitulating to the market driven economic model. In early years of the decade of 1990, Indian government took measured steps towards liberalizing economy such as reducing regulations on industry, offer incentives for foreign investment etc. The authors have reviewed the agricultural scenario in its structural form of ownership and access to land and water, the most critical resources of agricultural production. When viewed superficially, the book presents a contrast to the increasingly popular noise of market driven economics. The book simply speaks about the right of multitudes of hardworking agriculture dependent masses to dignified livelihood. It does not advocate doles and politics of poverty. On the contrary, the book seeks creation of self-organized, professional communities of farmers, which can participate in market economy. It looks at the effective management of distribution of water as a precondition for larger social development of India. The authors have pointed out that access of majority people to land will not suffice to achieve the goal of stable development, and equal access of all in rural area to water for agriculture along with equal access to land is equally essential for a complete economic and social change. Many observations and insights from this quarter century old document are still relevant. A modest number of them but a routinely vocal class of farmers are still conducting intense protests around the country's capital. The pitch of sentiments is overshadowing an objective and practical approach to the problem of an inclusive approach to organization of agriculture sector of India. The politics of subsidies and doles continues in an environment of unequal distribution of productive resources and a consequent sense of insecurity among a large section of society. The book proposes the case with more than adequate data on status of irrigation and agricultural yield in the country. The problem is also thoroughly dissected with the help of the case study of Maharashtra, one of the most industrialized and prosperous state of India.