The Political Economy of Land Acquisition in India

1. Front Matter

   Pages i-xvi

   PDF

2. Introduction

   • Dhanmanjiri Sathe

   Pages 1-11

3. Eminent Domain, Right to Property and the LARR 2013

   • Dhanmanjiri Sathe

   Pages 13-29

4. A Historical Detour and Background to Maan

   • Dhanmanjiri Sathe

   Pages 31-49

5. The Loss of Land and Compensation Issues

   • Dhanmanjiri Sathe

   Pages 51-73

6. Growth in Maan

   • Dhanmanjiri Sathe

   Pages 75-92

7. The Development in Maan

   • Dhanmanjiri Sathe

   Pages 93-119

8. Land Acquisition and the Dalits

   • Dhanmanjiri Sathe

   Pages 121-138

9. Other Significant Changes in Maan

   • Dhanmanjiri Sathe

   Pages 139-157

10. A Review of Some Other Acquisitions In India and Policy Implications

    • Dhanmanjiri Sathe

    Pages 159-185

11. Need for a Shift in Discourse

    • Dhanmanjiri Sathe

    Pages 187-204

This book examines key issues concerning land acquisition, and puts forward policy suggestions. Land acquisition is one of the most important issues besetting India’s political economy today. There have been many conflicts surrounding acquisitions; but there have been ample peaceful acquisitions, too. Growth in any economy requires more land.  Hence in India too, in the future more and more land will be required for the purposes of infrastructure expansion, industrialization, urbanization etc.

The book also examines a number of broader policy issues in the context of land reforms and shows how a successful resolution of the land acquisition matter is vital to attaining a high rate of growth. Using a case study method, the book examines the process of land acquisition in detail and its implications for farmers. It finds that the development of acquired land leads to higher growth and higher employment; and it also leads to improvements for the dalits (the backward class p

eople). Benefits in terms of higher revenues for the government are also observed. It argues that, if the acquisition process is properly executed, those farmers who lose land will not oppose acquisition but will instead become partners in the process of growth.

• Land acquisition
• Compensation
• Benefits from acquisition
• Eminent Domain
• Protest movements
• Dalit status
• Political Economy

“Land acquisition has become a very sensitive and highly politicised issue in the recent past when the government started acquiring land unabated. This study deliberates perceptively on this current & volatile issue in the context of rural India. The study takes this issue for a discussion at micro level providing a strong support from the broader theoretical discussions. Weaving of the micro level nuances to bring out a solid framework utilizable for policy, makes the study very interesting.” (Professor R. S. Deshpande is Former Director,  Institute of Social and Economic Change, Banglore and currently Director CDS @ PES University Bangalore)

“While most studies focus on the increase in industrial investment, exports and employment possible from land acquisition, this fascinating study examines land acquisition from the farmer’s standpoint, and impact on village economy and life. It argues that the farmer also aspires for the benefits of development, if an ‘acceptable comp

ensation’ package is available. Well-researched, in an era of change, it provides a rare micro-view of the painful transition from rural to urban life.” (Sudha Pai is Former Professor, Centre for Political Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University,and currently National Fellow, Indian Council of Social Science Research)

• Department of Economics, Savitribai Phule Pune University, Pune, India

  Dhanmanjiri Sathe

 Dhanmanjiri Sathe is Professor at the Savitribai Phule Pune University, Maharashtra, India. She was also a Professor at the Centre for Economic Studies and Planning, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi and has been a visiting faculty at the Goettingen University, Germany.

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