What does it mean to own a piece of land?

CSR 2025-06-09 16:39:25

While our time on Earth is finite, our generations live on. And for many, land ownership is more than just an economic asset it’s tied to dignity, identity, and power. Equitable access to land isn’t just a legal matter, it’s foundational to social justice. 

In Tamil Nadu, minority communities especially Dalits, Adivasis, and religious minorities continue to face systemic barriers in securing land rights. 

Despite constitutional guarantees and decades of land reform policies, land distribution remains deeply unequal. 

Did you know? 

  1. Dalits make up over 20% of Tamil Nadu’s population — yet own less than 3% of its agricultural land. Many remain trapped in landlessness and bonded labor. (Rural Development Institute, 2008; National Dalit Movement for Justice, 2022) 

  1. Adivasi communities in the Nilgiris and Kalrayan Hills face ongoing evictions and non-recognition of rights under the Forest Rights Act (2006), despite meeting all legal criteria. (Frontline, 2023) 

  1. Even when land is allotted, issues like lack of patta (title deeds), encroachment, and bureaucratic delays block effective ownership. In some cases, land redistribution efforts have even triggered caste-based violence. (Human Rights Watch, 2020) 

At ETHOS, LegalEase Solutions’ CSR community, we’re partnering with organizations such as Information and Resource Centre for the Deprived Urban Communities (IRCDUC) that support these communities in reclaiming their dignity, identity, and rightful ownership.  

Our team contributes critical legal research to help advance these efforts because we believe that access to land is access to justice. Join us, let’s work together for a more equitable future. 

CSR