Eight political parties in Telangana have called upon the state government to immediately identify tenant farmers under the 2011 Act. They demand direct access to MSP and government welfare schemes for the 22 lakh affected families.

  • Eight political parties demand immediate implementation of the 2011 Licensed Cultivators Act.
  • Approximately 22 lakh tenant farmer families in Telangana are seeking legal recognition.
  • Demands include identity cards for direct access to MSP and government schemes.
  • Parties urge the Congress government to fulfill pre-election manifesto promises.

HYDERABAD: In a significant move to address the agrarian crisis, eight political parties in Telangana jointly urged the state government on Wednesday to implement the Licensed Cultivators Act, 2011. The demand was made during an all-party meeting organized by the Telangana Tenant Farmers Recognition Struggle Committee at the Sundarayya Vignana Kendram.

The parties emphasized that the identification process for tenant farmers must begin during the current Kharif season. They specifically demanded that licensed cultivators be issued official identity cards, which would allow them to sell their produce directly to government procurement agencies at the Minimum Support Price (MSP).

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Why This Matters

BozokMedia analysis shows that the exclusion of tenant farmers from the mainstream agricultural economy creates a massive vulnerability. As government schemes like PM-KISAN have transitioned to land-ownership-linked and OTP-based verification, nearly 36% of the state's cultivators are being systematically left behind.

Tenant farmers are among the most vulnerable sections in the ongoing agrarian crisis and deserve immediate institutional support and legal recognition.

The scale of the issue is immense. It is estimated that tenant farmers account for over 36% of the cultivators in Telangana, covering nearly 22 lakh families. Despite their massive contribution to the state's agricultural output, they remain largely invisible in official land records.

The political leaders criticized the previous BRS government for discontinuing the implementation of the 2011 Act after 2017. They have now turned their attention to the current Congress administration, calling on Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy to honor the commitments made in the party's manifesto prior to the 2023 Assembly elections.

Historical Background

The Licensed Cultivators Act of 2011 was envisioned as a landmark piece of legislation to bridge the gap between land ownership and actual cultivation. By providing legal status to those working on leased land, the act aimed to provide a safety net involving credit access, fertilizer subsidies, and direct market links, ensuring that the actual tillers of the soil receive the benefits of state policy.

Did You Know?: Tenant farmers contribute significantly to the state's GDP but often lack the legal standing to claim crop insurance.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is the Licensed Cultivators Act, 2011?
It is a law designed to recognize and provide legal rights and benefits to farmers who cultivate land owned by others.

2. Why are tenant farmers struggling to get benefits?
Most modern government schemes are tied to land ownership records, which tenant farmers do not possess.