78% rural households own land in Himachal, J-K: Census

Ravi S Singh

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, July 5

The Socio-Economic and Caste Census released by the Centre on Friday puts Jammu and Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh on a par, but ahead of other states and Union Territories in terms of percentage of their rural households owning land. Both states are way ahead of the national figure of 44 per cent.

Chandigarh tops the list of states and union territories whose rural households own no land. Of a total of 15,657 of its households, 15,295 do not own land (98 per cent). It is followed by Puducherry (95 per cent), National Capital Territory of Delhi (93 per cent) and Goa (92 per cent). The national figure, as per the official version, is 56 per cent. Although the two Himalayan states (Himachal and J&K) are not known for landed aristocracy, the Census suggests comparatively equitable distribution of their rural land bank in the national perspective. Sample the data under the rubric: “Household land ownership pattern (rural)”. In Jammu and Kashmir, out of 16,00,842 households, 12,42,495 have land ownership (78 per cent). Same is the percentage in case of Himachal Pradesh, where 9,85,676 of its total 12,61,682 households own land. The percentage is 62 in case of both Rajasthan and Jharkhand, 44 in case of Haryana (total households 29,69,502) and 35 in case of Punjab (total households 32,68,562).

Punjab leads among states in the region and ranks second in the country with regard to asset ownership (refrigerators and motorised vehicles). It is behind Goa.

This behavioural pattern in the state may evince interest in sociological and socio-psychology pundits in the light of its poor status with regard lopsided distribution of the land capital.

As per the Census, the total number of Punjab households is 32,68,562. While 66.43 per cent of them have refrigerators, 51 per cent own “motorised two/three/four-wheelers or motorised fishing boat requiring registration”.

Jammu and Kashmir’s percentage with regard to refrigerator ownership is 18.01 and 12.04 as regards vehicles. The respective percentage figures are 38.97 and 42.1 in case of Himachal Pradesh; 38.97 and 34.21 in case of Haryana; and 69 and 65.85 in case of Goa. The National Capital Region of Delhi ranks third in this regard.

The national figure is 11.04 per cent with regard ownership of refrigerators and 20.69 per cent with regard the motorised vehicles.