The Uttar Pradesh government has made an important amendment to make the land consolidation (chakbandi) process more transparent and democratic for farmers. According to the new rule, land consolidation in any revenue village will only begin when at least 75% of the landholders (farmers) of that village provide their written consent. The state government has issued strict instructions to all district magistrates from the headquarters regarding this. This new rule has been implemented by the Yogi government. Here are the details:
Previous System
Earlier, land consolidation started based on a proposal passed by the majority of the village head (gram pradhan) and the elected members of the village council (gram panchayat). Complaints were common, and consolidation often began without farmers’ consent. This frequently led to disputes. Under the new system, decisions on consolidation will be taken according to the wishes of the majority of the farmers in the village.
Why Was the New Rule Necessary?
The purpose of land consolidation is to combine the scattered pieces of farmland held by a farmer into a single plot. This makes farming easier and helps better manage land resources. However, earlier, the proper consent of farmers was often not obtained. This caused disagreements and a lack of trust. The new arrangement ensures farmers’ participation and reduces the chances of conflicts or dissatisfaction.
Government Guidelines and Awareness Campaigns
The state government has directed all district officials to ensure written consent from 75% of farmers before starting consolidation. District administrations must conduct widespread awareness campaigns at the village level. These campaigns explain the benefits of consolidation to farmers. The authorities ensure that the process remains fully transparent and avoid any pressure or coercion.
Experts’ Views
Agricultural experts believe this change will increase transparency in the consolidation process and strengthen farmers’ trust. It is especially important to involve small and marginal farmers so that they, too, can benefit from the process.
What does it mean by Land consolidation (Chakbandi)?
Land consolidation means combining fragmented pieces of land spread across different locations into one contiguous piece to make farming easier and more productive. In Bihar, land consolidation started in the 1970s but was discontinued in 1992. Later, following a court order, the process was revived in 2021. Consolidation allows a farmer who owns multiple small plots in different places to manage a single, larger plot instead. Over time, family divisions had led to farms becoming smaller and scattered. This increased the effort and cost of cultivation without a corresponding increase in produce or income. By consolidating land in one place, farming costs can be reduced, and productivity improved. This enables better use of modern equipment and increases the farmer’s benefits.
