Indian Landless Farmers March To New Delhi To Push Gov’t For Land Reform

Indian landless villagers shout slogans in Agra, about 185 kilometers (115 miles) southeast of New Delhi, India, Thursday, Oct. 11, 2012. Thousands of poor farmers have ended their march to India’s capital after the government agreed to formulate a new reform policy, providing land rights to them and fast tracking settlement of their land disputes. The protesters from nearly a dozen states set out on a 320-kilometer (200-mile) march from the central Indian city of Gwalior nine days ago under the banner of “Ekta Parishad,” or “Unity Council,” and planned to reach New Delhi at the end of the month.

Indian landless villagers listen to their leader speak in Agra, about 185 kilometers (115 miles) southeast of New Delhi, India, Thursday, Oct. 11, 2012.

Indian landless villagers and tribal people celebrate after their leader P.V. Rajagopal, signed a land reform agreement with Indian Rural Development Minister Jairam Ramesh, in Agra, about 185 kilometers (115 miles) southeast of New Delhi, India, Thursday, Oct. 11, 2012

A landless rural India woman cheers after P.V. Rajagopal, the leader of thousands of farmers, signed an agreement with Indian Rural Development Minister Jairam Ramesh, in Agra, about 185 kilometers (115 miles) southeast of New Delhi, India, Thursday, Oct. 11, 2012.

Jan Satyagraha leader, P.V. Rajagopal, center right, and Indian Rural Development Minister Jairam Ramesh, center left, exchange documents as they sign an agreement in Agra, about 185 kilometers (115 miles) southeast of New Delhi, India, Thursday, Oct. 11, 2012. <AP Photo/Manish Swarup>

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