THE DISPOSSESSED | How Landlessness Feeds Poverty in Bihar

June 23, 2023
By Surabhi Singh

Deba Manjhi, a 75-year-old labourer from Bihar's West Champaran district, used to receive 3 hatai (2.25 kg) of paddy in exchange for a grueling day's work a couple of decades ago. Presently, he labours 5 to 6 hours daily in the agricultural fields owned by land-owning farmers, earning a meager wage of 150 rupees. His sons are also daily-wage labourers, and sadly, none of his grandchildren attend school. Belonging to the lowest caste hierarchy and deprived of land or any assets for generations, Deba Manjhi represents a significant portion of Bihar's population, accounting for 52%, that has been identified by the NITI Aayog as multidimensionally poor. Despite the implementation of land reforms, promising land to the landless, Deba Manjhi still awaits the day when he?ll have access to the land allocated by the government. Until then, his future generations look destined to a life plagued by poverty, lack of education, and food insecurity.