Research with a focus on the equity and land access aspects of tenancy, building from the views of the poor concerning tenancy, their tenancy experiences, and interest in tenancy opportunities.
Sponsor workshops involving the rural poor and their representatives to discuss tenancy with an aim to inform the policy dialogue, especially around issues of how to liberalize.
In an appropriate setting (where the tenancy laws do not present constraints), collaborate with an NGO on conducting a leasing pilot, perhaps with written lease agreements that are informed by recent FAO study on lease agreement best practices.
Document the experience of one or more of the most significant non-donor-financed land purchase schemes in India and study the impacts on beneficiary livelihoods.
Initiate workshops in which the research results are presented to a broad group of stakeholders (government department heads, politicians, NGOs, beneficiaries, etc.). The workshops would provide a forum for those stakeholders to respond to and discuss the results with an aim toward reaching specific policy recommendations. Those recommendations could then be disseminated through various channels (mass media, directed mailings to politicians and bureaucrats, NGOs and other civil society organizations, and direct briefings to key officials).
Research the effects of restrictions on alienation in various communities. Conduct workshops to discuss possible alternatives.
Further study of related NGO and other programmes in India that either allocate or develop home gardens in order to both study the impacts and develop a set of best practices for such programmes.
Collaborate with state governments or NGOs on pilots to obtain and distribute land for the purpose of granting house-and-garden plots of at least 0.07 acre (3,000 square feet) or small field plots of a fraction of an acre to rural landless families.
Collaborate with state governments or NGOs on agricultural extension programmes that provide advice and assistance for the development of home gardens or very small field plots.
Research community views and experiences regarding individual and joint title, the practical value of rights of partition, alternative ownership and leasing schemes for land cultivation.
Prepare a comprehensive list and description of land-based, gender-focused, rural poverty-alleviation projects designed and implemented by governments, NGOs, or other actors in India.
Conduct workshops to assist in the process of drafting and supporting proposals for amendments to legislation relating to inheritance rights and, potentially, co-ownership of marital property.
Coordinate with local NGOs to design projects, such as land leasing schemes, through which women receive the benefits of their land labour while also gain experience with land management.
Research panchayat and land revenue legislation to determine what land-related responsibilities have been given to panchayats in law and to identify inconsistencies and lacunae.
Field research to determine the extent and nature of the gram panchayat's actual roles concerning land management, allocation, use, and land-related dispute resolution.
Sponsor and conduct workshops to identify specific NGO activities or government programmes to enhance the land-related capacities of panchayats.
Design pilot activities involving collabouration with PRIs and NGOs to train panchayat members on various natural resource management topics or otherwise developing the capacity of PRIs to undertake their legal responsibilities concerning land allocation, management, and use.
Identify the entities (e.g., state government, universities, NGOs) in India who are currently providing legal aid to the rural poor, the scope of their services (both geographical and topical) and personnel.
Research selected communities to identify types of land issues, what challenges the officials who are charged with addressing those issues face, and explore the feasibility of possible interventions. Use information to inform discussions about the selection of places for legal aid intervention and the design of appropriate legal aid systems.
Conduct state-level workshops with appropriate NGOs, government officials responsible for the implementation of the Legal Services Authorities Act, and representatives from judiciary and legal community to examine the particular need for education and dispute resolution in the area of land rights. Workshops can also be held at district and block levels to train local officials, NGOs, and community leaders on land issues, assist in the design of community education programmes, and discuss dispute resolution programmes.
Work in conjunction with an NGO to design and sponsor a legal aid programme.
