LIBERTY INSTITUTE
C-4/8 Sahyadri , Plot 5, Sector 12, Dwarka, New Delhi 110078. India, Tel: +91-11-28031309
Email: info@LibertyInstitute.org.in | info@LibertyIndia.org , Websites: www.InDefenceofLiberty.org |www.ProtectingPropertyRights.org
Workshop on Property Rights as Human Rights
at Hyderabad on August 13 & 14, 2011
In Association with PUCL-AP
Land has emerged as a critical issue on India’s national agenda in the past few years. There has been protests across the country on issues like land acquisition. From urban slum dwellers in Mumbai to farmers in West Bengal all are agitating on the issue of land.
People from all walks of life, from the actor Amitabh Bachhan to author and activist Arundhati Roy, from industrialist Ratan Tata to former Prime Minister, the late Chandrashekhar, have faced different kinds of problems related to land.
The lower levels of the judiciary are clogged with land and property related disputes. The state of land records is pathetic. Title documents are not updated. Land settlement has not taken place for decades. Land related frauds are rampant. The duties, taxes and fees on land transaction are grossly distorting, and perhaps the single most source of black money. Hardly any transaction of land can takes place without bribes and corruption. Computerisation of land records is a step forward, but in many instances, documents are not updated, and manipulation of records is common.
India is a large country, yet land laws are creating artificial scarcity. While on paper, property rights are protected by law, but in practice, quality of protection has greatly eroded in the past six decades. Transforming India’s property system into a modern, and formal legal structure could improve the lives of a billion Indians by providing effective protection to their land and property, and enhancing the value of their assets by facilitating transactions.
The focus of people’s movements from compensation and rehabilitation is turning towards poor people asserting their right on their land holdings. This has been turning into a major human rights concern. In view of prevailing environment, we are proposing to organize a Workshop on Property Rights vs. Human Rights at Hyderabad on August 13th and 14th, 2011, in association with People’s Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL)-AP Unit.
We invite participation from human rights activists and those are interested on issues related to land rights and related movements. The workshop is open for the participants of Southern States and neighboring states of Andhra Pradesh. Interested participants may confirm their participation and contact at following address for details.
As we can accommodate a limited number of participants only, please contact us by July 22nd with a brief comment on what the participant expects out of such a workshop.
Please contact Mr Ch. Narendra (Hyderabad) Workshop Coordinator, Email:expressnarendra@gmail.com, Mobile : 91-98495 69050
Dr Barun Mitra, Director, Liberty Institute
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