1 Short Title

This Act may be cited as the "Equitable Land Redistribution and Rural Development Act."

2 Findings and Purpose

a)

Findings

1)

Concentrated land ownership contributes to social inequality, rural poverty, and underutilization of land resources.

2)

Equitable land redistribution can promote social equity, improve rural livelihoods, and foster economic development.

b)

Purpose

1)

To establish a comprehensive and transparent land redistribution program.

2)

To address land concentration and promote the equitable distribution of land ownership.

3)

To improve rural livelihoods, agricultural productivity, and economic development.

3 Definitions

In this Act:

1)

"Land Redistribution Agency" means the agency established under Section 4.

2)

"Beneficiary" means an individual or group eligible for land redistribution under this Act.

4 Establishment of the Land Redistribution Agency

a)

Establishment

1)

There is established a Land Redistribution Agency.

2)

The Land Redistribution Agency shall be responsible for implementing the provisions of this Act.

b)

Powers and Duties

1)

The Land Redistribution Agency shall:

i)

Identify land suitable for redistribution.

ii)

Determine eligibility criteria for beneficiaries.

iii)

Oversee the land acquisition, compensation, and allocation processes.

iv)

Coordinate with relevant government agencies and stakeholders.

v)

Provide support services to beneficiaries, including agricultural extension services, access to credit, and infrastructure development.

vi)

Monitor and evaluate the implementation of this Act.

5 Land Identification and Acquisition

a)

The Land Redistribution Agency shall identify suitable land for redistribution, prioritizing land that is unutilized, underutilized, or owned by absentee landlords.

b)

The Land Redistribution Agency shall acquire land through negotiation or, where necessary, compulsory acquisition, in accordance with applicable laws and regulations.

c)

Landowners shall be provided fair and just compensation for acquired land.

6 Beneficiary Eligibility and Allocation

a)

The Land Redistribution Agency shall establish transparent and equitable eligibility criteria for beneficiaries, prioritizing landless individuals, small-scale farmers, and historically disadvantaged communities.

b)

Land shall be allocated to beneficiaries in a transparent, fair, and participatory manner, taking into consideration the needs and preferences of the affected communities.

7 Support Services and Rural Development

The Land Redistribution Agency shall collaborate with relevant government agencies and stakeholders to provide support services to beneficiaries, including:

1)

Agricultural extension services.

2)

Access to credit and financial services.

3)

Infrastructure development, such as roads, irrigation systems, and storage facilities.

4)

Capacity-building and training programs.

8 Monitoring and Evaluation

a)

The Land Redistribution Agency shall establish a robust monitoring and evaluation system to assess the implementation of this Act and its impact on social equity, rural livelihoods, and economic development.

b)

The Land Redistribution Agency shall provide annual reports to the relevant legislative body, detailing the progress and outcomes of the land redistribution program.

9 Funding

The necessary funds for the implementation of this Act shall be appropriated from the national budget or other available sources.

10 Regulations

The Land Redistribution Agency shall promulgate any necessary regulations for the implementation of this Act.

11 Effective Date

This Act shall take effect immediately upon its enactment.

Note: This is a general template for a piece of legislation incorporating the common features of successful land redistribution policies, as mentioned in the previous answer. The specific content and provisions of any such legislation would need to be tailored to the legal, political,