What were the main provisions of The Kanam Tenancy Abolition Act, 1976 in Kerala?
The Kanam Tenancy Abolition Act, 1976 in Kerala aimed to abolish the kanam tenure system and confer absolute ownership of land to cultivating tenants. The main provisions included:

1. Abolition of kanam tenure: This act ended the kanam tenure system, which was a form of traditional landholding where the owner (kanakkar) had limited rights over the land.

2. Conferment of absolute ownership: Cultivating tenants under kanam tenure were given absolute ownership of the land they cultivated, making them the legal owners of the property.

3. Protection of cultivating tenants: The act provided security and protection to cultivating tenants by ensuring their right to possess and use the land for agricultural purposes without any hindrance from the previous kanakkar.

4. Land settlement: The government was responsible for carrying out a new settlement of the abolished kanam lands, which involved reallocating the land to the cultivating tenants and determining the boundaries of each holding.

5. Compensation to previous owners: The act provided for compensation to the previous kanakkar (owners) in the form of a lump sum payment or an annuity for the loss of their rights over the kanam lands.

6. Implementation of land reforms: The Kanam Tenancy Abolition Act, 1976 was part of broader land reform initiatives in Kerala aimed at reducing economic inequality and promoting social justice by redistributing land ownership among the poor and disadvantaged sections of society.