Interviewer instructions
4.3.15 Item 7: Whether owns any land (1 yes, 2 no): Code 1 or 2 will be recorded against this item depending on whether the household owns any land or not as on the date of survey.
4.3.16 A piece of land is considered 'owned by the household' if permanent heritable possession with or without the right to transfer the title is vested in a member or members of the household. Land held in owner-like possession under long-term lease or assignment is also considered as land owned. Thus, in determining the ownership of a plot of land, two basic concepts are involved, namely,
(a) Land owned by the household i.e., land on which the household has the right of permanent heritable possession with or without the right to transfer the title e.g., Pattadars, Bhumidars, Jenmons, Bhumiswamis, Rayat, Sithibans etc. A plot of land may be leased out to others by the owner without losing the right of permanent heritable possession.
(b) Land held under special conditions such as the holder does not possess the title of ownership but the right for long-term possession of the land (for example, land possessed under perpetual lease, hereditary tenure and long-term lease for 30 years or more) will be considered as being held under owner-like possession. In the states where land reform legislation has provided for full proprietorship to erstwhile tenants, they are to be considered as having owner-like possession, even if they have not paid the full compensation.
4.3.17 Sometimes a plot may be possessed by a tribal in accordance with traditional tribal rights from local chieftains or village/district council. Again a plot may be occupied by a tenant for which the right of ownership vests in the community. In both the cases the tribal or other individual (tenant) will be taken as owner; for in all such cases, the holder has owner-like possession of the land in question.
4.3.20 Items 9-13: Land possessed (in 0.00 hectares): The area of land (in 0.00 hectares) 'owned', 'leased-in', 'neither owned nor leased-in' and 'leased-out' by the household as on the date of survey will be ascertained and recorded against items 9, 10, 11 and 12 respectively. The total area of land possessed by the household will be worked out as item 9 + item 10 + item 11 - item 12 and recorded against item 13 in 2 places of decimals. The entry cells have been bifurcated in two parts - one integral part and the other fractional i.e., decimal part. The definition of land owned is as given for item 7. As regards lease, land given to others on rent or free by owner of the land without surrendering the right of permanent heritable title is defined as land leased-out. Land leased-in is defined as land taken by a household on rent or free without any right of permanent or heritable possession. The lease contract may be written or oral. If the household has possession of land for which it lacks title of ownership and also does not have any lease agreement for the use of the land transacted either verbally or in writing, such land will be considered as 'neither owned nor leased-in'. It may be noted that entries to be recorded against these items should not include the area of land owned, leased-in etc., by the servants/paying guests who are considered as normal members of the household. For 'nil' entry, a dash (-) may be recorded against the concerned item.
Note: If land is owned/cultivated jointly by two or more households, then land may be apportioned in consultation with the informant.
