What major reform did Sergei Witte initiate that aided peasant welfare?

The reform initiated by Sergei Witte that significantly aided peasant welfare was the ending of redemption payments for peasants. Redemption payments were financial obligations that the serfs had to fulfill after their emancipation from serfdom in 1861. These payments were often burdensome and contributed to the ongoing economic struggle of the peasantry.

By abolishing these payments, Witte directly alleviated some of the financial pressures faced by the peasants, thereby enabling them to retain more of their income for investments in their farms, education, and other essential needs. This reform was crucial in promoting a sense of economic stability and improving the overall welfare of the peasant population in Russia during a time of significant change.

The other options do not align with Witte's key reforms regarding peasant welfare. Increasing taxes on land ownership would have likely exacerbated the financial difficulties faced by peasants rather than alleviating them. Establishing communes or creating new land distribution policies were not primary actions taken by Witte, as his focus was more on economic modernization and industrial development rather than traditional communal systems or land redistribution.