Adivasi-Dalit groups to launch campaign against ‘Land Reform 2.0’

Adivasi and Dalit organisations are set to launch a campaign against the State government’s proposed reforms to land laws under its recently announced ‘Land Reform 2.0’ initiative, alleging that the move could pave the way for the concentration of land in the hands of large corporate interests.The Ambedkarite Democratic Front (ADF), an umbrella organisation of more than 50 outfits, will organise a Dalit-Adivasi-Bahujan land rights convention in Kottayam on September 26 as part of the campaign. The convention will be held at the PWD Rest House from 10 a.m.In a joint statement, ADF chairperson I.R. Sadanandan, working chairperson K. Ambujakshan, and general convener M. Geethanandan said the proposed second land reform should not result in the establishment of “feudal-corporate land ownership” in the State.The ADF alleged that the government had tasked a group with drafting legislation for the proposed Land Reform 2.0 initiative, which, it said, was aimed at amending land laws to make it easier to identify land for commercial purposes and allow plantation owners greater freedom to use their holdings, including multi-crop cultivation and tourism activities on a larger scale.Allowing plantation owners to convert plantation land for multi-crop cultivation and tourism would effectively transform the feudal land ownership system dismantled by Keralam’s progressive land reforms into a new form of corporate ownership, the organisation alleged.The proposed changes could also undermine the land ceiling provisions guaranteed under the land reforms legislation and extinguish the “last hope” of thousands of landless Dalits and Adivasis living in colonies and settlements, the ADF said.The organisation alleged that Dalit and Adivasi communities had supported the Congress-led United Democratic Front in the 2026 Assembly polls based on its promise to take over more than five lakh acres of plantation land allegedly held by large landowners using forged documents and distribute it among the landless, besides providing land to Adivasis. However, the government had ignored those promises after assuming office and was now attempting to dilute the Land Reforms Act in a manner that could facilitate the emergence of feudal-corporate land ownership, it alleged.The ADF demanded that the government acquire the plantation land allegedly held illegally and distribute it among the landless. It also demanded that multi-crop cultivation on plantation land be permitted without diluting the basic principles of land reform laws or removing the land ceiling.The leaders called for legislation to provide agricultural land to landless people in the State.They said the September 26 convention would formulate a comprehensive action plan through discussions on the issue.Following the convention, a fraternity meeting will be held at the Kottayam Police Station ground from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. The meeting will be attended by leaders of the 2003 Muthanga land agitation, including those who were recently released from prison. Published - September 07, 2026 08:31 pm IST