Sociology of Land Reforms and Dalits in Uttar Pradesh

Abstract

From Dalit standpoint land reform is not just transfer of an economic asset in their favour but it also involves upsetting of the existing socio-political structure. Land reform through market skips this crucial element. This article argues that in a state like Uttar Pradesh where land ownership pattern still follows caste hierarchy reflecting the dominance of upper caste and a few sections of OBCs on agrarian structure and where scope of distribution of ceiling surplus land still remains wide, land reforms through market would perhaps prove counter-productive. This article submits for further discussion that with increasing productivity of arable land, land ceiling should be lowered down especially in irrigated areas.