NEW DELHI: With most states taking a favourable stand on the model land leasing law proposed by the NITI Aayog, the Centre is planning to bring in a legislation in this regard.
The NITI Aayog, earlier this year, had proposed the legalisation of the leasing of farmland in all states. It is expected to help people unable or unwilling to till their farmland to formally lease their land or a part of it for cultivation by others.
The NITI Aayog had circulated the draft among states and most states, especially all BJP ruling states, have supported it. The only two states that have not responded positively are learnt to be West Bengal and Kerala.
“We are getting positive responses from many states. All BJP-ruled states have agreed. Once we get the responses from all states, we will pass it on to the PMO for further decision,’’ said a source with the NITI Aayog.
He said the Centre is likely to frame the law on the basis of the inputs. “But since land is a state subject, the law will not be binding. The state will have the right to decide,’’ said the source.
As of now, land leasing is banned in many states like Kerala, J&K and Gujarat on the ground that it is a remnant of the now abolished zamindari system. In certain states like Tamil Nadu, it is allowed with certain conditions that the landowner cannot prematurely evict the tenant.
“We hope that all states will introduce the mode as it will be highly beneficial for the agriculture sector of the country. There are large tracts of land lying empty as there are nobody to till it while there are many who wants to do farming but with no land. This law is intended to connect the two,’’ he added.
He said around 15 per cent of the country’s agriculture land was already under lease farming, but the cultivators had no protection.
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