The Mundkar System in Goa: Historical Land Tenure and Legislative Developments

In Goa, India, the mundkar was a historical land tenure system prevalent amongst the Catholic crowd during the Portuguese colonial rule. In the 16th century, it allowed the tenant farmers who are poor known as mundkars to live and cultivate on the land owned by landlords who are wealthier in exchange for labor and a share of the agricultural produce. It played a very significant role in shaping the agrarian economy of Goa, providing opportunities of livelihood for the landless farmers and ensuring a stable work labour for landowners. With time, the mundkar system underwent various legislative developments, with the introduction of protective measures and legal safeguards. Substantial changes were brought about by The Goa, Daman and Diu Mundkars (Protection from Eviction) Act of 1975, redefining the concept and ambit of mundkar and providing more security of tenure. It aimed to prevent arbitrary evictions of the mundkar and also protect the rights of mundkars. The mundkar system remains an important aspect of Goa's agrarian landscape despite its prominence diminishing in recent years.