ABSTRACT
This chapter focuses on issues of tribal landlessness. It deals with a discussion of the movements' struggle to gain legislation that would provide government-owned land for the landless. The chapter explores the evolution of government policy making and implementation with the activities and demands of organized adivasi based movements throughout the state, particularly Shramik Sanghatana in Dhule, Bhoomi Sena in Palghar Taluka of Thane, and the CPI(M) Kisan Sabha movement in Dahanu and Talasari Talukas of Thane. Major pieces of legislation designed to protect tenancies and give ownership of land to the tiller were passed in 1939, 1948, and 1955. In 1974, the Maharashtra government issued an Ordinance designed to prevent further land alienation and to restore already alienated lands. The 1971 amendment to the plainly defective 1961 Ceiling Act was introduced only after a delay lengthy enough to provide those with too much land the opportunity to circumvent the law.
