AI Generated Summary
- He believes land can’t be handed over under pressure or minimal compensation, citing his own model of acquisition where he provides farmers with generous alternatives such as new homes, additional land, tractors, and other essentials.
- Young farmer Simran Singh Dakha, who left Canada to return to farming on his ancestral land, questions the viability of giving land to the government.
- Many see the policy as a modern iteration of the Land Acquisition Act—a tool that they believe historically stripped farmers of their rights.
A growing wave of resistance is emerging among farmers in Punjab, as they push back against the state government’s land pooling policy. Despite promises of compensation and development, many landowners are unwilling to part with their agricultural land. The reason? A deep emotional connection to their land and a deep-seated distrust in government assurances.
Land Is More Than Just Property
Ayali owns 150 acres across villages like Birmi, Kialpur, and Dakha—areas targeted under the land pooling scheme. He believes land can’t be handed over under pressure or minimal compensation, citing his own model of acquisition where he provides farmers with generous alternatives such as new homes, additional land, tractors, and other essentials.
Distrust Runs Deep
Another major sticking point is a profound skepticism toward government promises. Farmers argue that the policy lacks transparency and adequate guarantees. Young farmer Simran Singh Dakha, who left Canada to return to farming on his ancestral land, questions the viability of giving land to the government:
“If I give it to the government, I lose it for at least eight years. Who knows what will happen in the future?”
Farmers fear being locked out of their only source of income without a clear timeline or safeguards in place. Many see the policy as a modern iteration of the Land Acquisition Act—a tool that they believe historically stripped farmers of their rights.
Women and Small Farmers at Risk
The policy also threatens the fabric of rural livelihoods, particularly for small farmers and women. Jaswant Singh from Issewal village warns that pooling land would devastate small-scale agriculture and dairy farming, where women play an active role.
“If land is pooled, their livelihood is gone. Why should a farmer hand over his security to the government?”
Singh, like many others, believes the decision to sell or keep land should lie solely with the landowner—not the government.
The Bottom Line
The Punjab government’s land pooling policy is facing stiff opposition because it clashes with the farmers’ sense of identity, economic security, and autonomy. Without trust, transparency, or meaningful incentives, efforts to implement the scheme are likely to continue facing resistance from the very people it’s meant to involve.
