Land-Related Legal Aid in India.ppt

Land-Related Legal Aid in India Tim Hanstad World Bank March 9-10, 2009 Context Data highlights importance of broad access and secure rights 15 million rural landless HHs; another 45 million 0.10 acre Vast majority of landholders are small marginal, many with insecure rights Major gaps between land records and rural realities Key agency (Revenue Dept) has multiple responsibilities and lacks capacity Gaps in land records/administration + social stratification/disempowerment = problems, especially for poor Petty corruption -- $700 million per yr Women face additional constraints in obtaining access and secure rights Past land reform efforts – mixed results, and offer present opportunities and challenges Relatively well-developed rules to govern land relations Andhra Pradesh Context 2 million landless HHs; 5.7m 0.10 acre Past govt land allocations to 2.9m HHs, but 30% not completed Unregistered land sales on 8% of agric land Land records and administration, but lacking capacity to meet needs of poorest Vibrant women SHG structure Political will to address land issues of the poor IKP (Velegu) Project Rural poverty reduction project. Help poor operate thru self-managed institutions; collective axn; create/enhance livelihoods Administered by semi-autonomous NGO Land component added in 2003 Land purchase: helping women purchase small, irrigated plots 5303 women have purchased 4539 acres Assessments show signficant benefits, but . . . Activity currently suspended due to perceived high price of land. $1750/acre in 2008, up from $1211 in 2006 Exploring less costly house-and-garden plot pilot and leasing approaches Two objectives: (1) help target populations obtain secure rights to land; and (2) legal empowerment of communities 30% of 2.9 million govt land allottees lacked legal or physical possession Started small with law students to work with local land administration to help solve lingering issues Piloted with paralegals and community surveyors in one of