Is land reclassification becoming unattainable?

The Revenue Department is one of the most important departments that ordinary people depend on in their daily lives. It is directly connected to people’s lives. Land is the foundation of social progress and cultural development of any society. The changes in Kerala’s social life after land reforms, which ensured land ownership for many people, are proof of this. Even as Kerala approaches the 70th anniversary of its formation, it is clear that land-related issues have not been fully resolved. The goal of providing every person with their own land has also not been fully achieved.

Understanding this, the state government introduced a system allowing free land reclassification for plots up to 25 cents. However, this applied only to properties owned before December 30, 2017. For land above 25 cents up to one acre, a fee of 10% of the fair value was required, and for land above one acre, 20% had to be paid for reclassification. Following this, a large number of applications for land reclassification were submitted. When the application process was made online in January 2023, the number of applications increased significantly. At present, there are 2,76,610 pending applications across 1,670 villages in 78 taluks in the state.

Delays have increased mainly due to three elections held over the past two years. In 2022, temporary staff were appointed to process applications, but continuous elections slowed down the progress, leading to a backlog. The waiting period for a new government has also created a general slowdown in government departments, causing further delays in decision-making. Even after a new government comes in within a few weeks, it may take a few more months for departments to become fully active. By then, the current number of pending applications may rise from around 2.75 lakh to 3–3.5 lakh. So, what is the solution?

Only the political leadership changes; the administrative system remains the same. If officials from the Land Revenue Commissioner to village officers work with strong commitment, a large part of the problem can be resolved. However, they must adopt a clear priority system. Applications from the poorest people, especially those seeking reclassification for land below 25 cents, should be given priority. People applying to reclassify small plots like 5 or 10 cents are usually doing so to build a house, not for the real estate business. Officials must show commitment and responsibility by prioritising such urgent and genuine cases. They should also understand that for these applicants, building a home is closely tied to their dignity, identity, and basic right to live.