Agrarian Questions under Neoliberal Economic Policies in India: A Review and Analysis of Dispossession and Depeasantisation

Abstract

The agrarian communities in India are continuously facing the threats of eviction for development projects such as mining, industries, hydro projects and other infrastructure projects from the beginning of colonial administration. But these issues have been further complicated after neoliberal economic drive in recent period. Increase in land flow from agricultural sector to non-agricultural sector under advanced capitalism has witnessed paramount ill effect on rural farmers. Both depeasantisation and dispossession have occurred at the backdrop of new economic policies. The nature of such transformation has reinvigorated new agrarian discourse. The expansion of SEZ and dramatic rise of uncontrolled and unplanned urban sprawl have apparently made the agrarian issues more complex in recent time. Agriculture is undoubtedly passing through critical phase of discrimination and dispossession. In this paper the authors have tried to analyze such issues on the basis of literature review, data obtained from secondary sources and reports of various agencies.