Dalit land rights are one of the most contentious aspects of the law. According to government data, Dalits control a disproportionate share of the land. There are also a substantial number of landless Dalits. The 2015-2016 Agricultural Census shows that Schedule Castes controlled less than 9 percent of the agricultural land. The rural population controlled by Schedule Castes is 18.5 percent. This guide presents the key data and figures on landlessness and land holdings. It describes Panchami land in Tamil Nadu. This guide also notes the inadequacies of the available data, and where the data and figures do not agree. Our guide who are the Dalits, explains the term Dalit.
The importance of land
In the rural areas of India, land is the means for a person or family to be secure socially and economically. It is a status symbol as well. Historically, only upper castes owned both kind of lands. Dalits, or those of lower castes, worked as agricultural laborers. A study shows how the Manusmriti also supports upper castes’ monopoly on land, and how the rule book also played a role in denial of land to Dalits. Our guide on the Manusmriti provides a synopsis of the text. Our guide on debt bonded labor also provides information on landless labor.
Addressing Dalit landlessness: key stats
As per the Agriculture Census 2015-16, 146.45 million operational holdings in India covered 157.82 million hectares with an average holding size of 1.08 hectares (Summary by Agridots; All India Report on Agriculture Census 2015-16, Ministry of Agriculture, Government of India). Holdings operated by the Scheduled Castes formed 11.84 per cent of the total number of holdings (Agridots, summary of report). Information from the same Census states that Scheduled Castes operate a little less than 9 per cent of the operated area (NewsClick, Round Table India). Further, as per the researcher, 92 per cent of Scheduled Caste holdings are in the marginal category (i.e. between 0 to 2 hectares) and the average size of these holdings is 0.78 hectares (Round Table India). As per the data of land holding by social groups, 6 % of Scheduled Caste households operated 2 or more hectares of land and 12 % of Other Backward Classes (OBC) households and 16 % of the general and upper castes operated 2 or more hectares of land (2021 Research Square).
SECC 2011. The Ministry of Rural Development’s survey recorded landless rural Scheduled Caste households. Secondary sources quote varying percentages: 54.67% (Academia.edu’s summary of SECC); 56.5% (a paper on Research Square); and 58.4% (Round Table India). Definitions differ, and see the log for details. Old census data reveals landlessness of SC households at 54.7% to 58.4%. Relatedly, 71% of Dalits are landless laborers (Suraj Yengde, 2019, cited by Round Table India). Other sources state 11.84% of total rural operational holdings are SC (Agriculture Census 2015-16); about 9% SC of total operated area (Agriculture Census 2015-16); and 18.5% of total rural SC population (Census 2011).
Census of India, 2011, is accessible on the official website. Our article Scheduled Castes provides an overview of the classification. Refer to our article Dalit Women for other related reference gaps.
Understanding the data about caste and land ownership in India
In India, the Agricultural Census records operational land holdings. Legal land ownership is not recorded. Hence, in the case of Dalit farmers, who may work land owned by others, legal land ownership is not recorded. The agricultural census also does not record the legal land ownership of persons who do not own land. The SECC records persons who do not own land. Therefore, the two sources (Agricultural Census and SECC) record different populations. Hence, the data from these two sources cannot be added or compared to each other.
Panchami land
In Tamil Nadu, land set aside for Dalits is referred to as Panchami Land. During the colonial period, after an assessment of the conditions of Dalits in 1891, the British Government passed the Depressed Classes Land Act 1892. Under this Act, 12 lakh acres of land in what is now Tamil Nadu was set aside for the Dalits. As stated in the article, a large part of Panchami land is occupied by members of other castes. Based on other research, the article states that in 2013, 70 % of Dalits in Tamil Nadu worked as farm laborers on land owned by other castes, and about 60 % of Dalits in Tamil Nadu did not own land.
Can the land allotted under Can Panchami scheme be sold?
This is a legal question and I couldn’t find an answer to this. The rules for transferring land allotted to Scheduled Castes vary by state and the terms of the grant. Therefore, an individual should look at the land records and take legal advice from a lawyer or the concerned revenue official. This write-up does not give any legal advice. For legal advice on atrocities based on caste, please refer to our write-up on the Prevention of Atrocities Act.
What the data doesn’t show
The data in this report is old; the latest farm census was conducted in 2015-16 and the latest SECC census was conducted in 2011. The Farm census doesn’t reflect land ownership and SECC data varies between different reports. Information at the state level is not incorporated in the data at the national level. This report does not include information about recent policies and laws pertaining to land reforms in various states. There are several gaps in the data reported here.
Takeaway
The situation for Dalits is grim as they own very small or no land at all. Based on the 2015-16 Agriculture Census, Scheduled Castes (SCs) farm only 9% of the land and constitute 18.5% of the total farm labor in rural areas. The SECC 2011, estimates the percentage of landless SC households in rural areas between 55% to 58%. According to the 1892 Panchami Land settlement Act, 1.2 million acres of land in Tamil Nadu was allotted to Dalits; however, most of this land is occupied by upper castes and other non-Dalit communities. The data is old and the situations are the same even today.
Frequently Asked Questions
What share of agricultural land do Scheduled Castes operate?
The Agriculture Census 2015-16 shows just under 9 per cent of operated area, against 18.5 per cent of the rural population.
What percentage of Dalit households are landless?
Secondary summaries of the 2011 SECC give about 54.7 to 58.4 per cent of rural Scheduled Caste households. The figures vary by source and definition.
What is Panchami land?
Land assigned to Dalits in Tamil Nadu under the Depressed Classes Land Act of 1892, about 12 lakh acres. Studies say a significant portion is still occupied by non-Dalits.
Can Panchami land be sold?
This guide does not give legal advice and did not find a source. Rules differ by state and by the terms of the grant, so please check with a lawyer or the revenue office.
Why are Dalit landholdings small?
Researchers say that 92 per cent of Scheduled Caste holdings are marginal, 0 to 2 hectares, with an average of 0.78 hectares, reflecting historic denial of land.
Understanding caste is step one. Building digital independence is step two.
Ambedkarite communities around the world are using AI tools, blogging and email marketing to document their experiences, challenge discrimination and build platforms that cannot be silenced.
The Ambedkarite Educational Program teaches exactly these skills: AI tools, website building, email marketing, blogging and Google AI. Lifetime access is ₹297 (~$4 USD). All future courses are included free.
Or join the Movement free to start learning today.
SOURCES
- Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, All India Report on Agriculture Census 2015-16
- Agridots, “Agricultural Census in India: 10th and 11th” (summary of the report)
- NewsClick, “Caste Stranglehold in Agriculture”
- Round Table India, “Caste, Landownership, and Its Historicity: The Redistribution Question”
- Research Square, “Empowering Inclusive Growth: Addressing Socio-Economic Inequalities and Caste”
- Academia.edu, “Socio-Economic Caste Census 2011”
- Wikipedia, “2011 Socio Economic and Caste Census”
- Academia.edu, M. Kowsalya, “Panchami Land and Dalits in Tamil Nadu,” Universe International Journal of Interdisciplinary Research, 2020
