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How do Women Respond in the Context of Acquisition of Agricultural Land? A Micro Level Study in Semi-urban South Bengal, India

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  • Bidhan Kanti Das
  • Nabanita Guha

Abstract

The state’s ‘eminent domain’ provision under colonial Land Acquisition Act, 1894 is the major cause that forcefully dispossesses the peasantry of their major means of production, that is, land. Though it facilitates rapid industrialization, it has a severe impact on affected persons that often leads to socio-economic impoverishment. Despite the existence of a significant number of studies on the relationship and impacts of development-forced displacement and resettlement in general, only a few studies focus on gender issues. Moreover, there is complete absence of studies on the consequences, which women face in the context of acquisition of agricultural land, where the affected persons are not physically relocated. Based on a micro-level field study, it tries to explore what the affected persons, particularly the women, do when the productive assets like agricultural lands have been acquired for private industries. Furthermore, it tries to examine whether there is any impact on the members of neighbouring families, particularly the women, whose lands have not been acquired. Analyzing the village-level data in an industrial zone of South Bengal, India, it is revealed that land acquisition forced the affected women to go outside for earning, thereby enhancing their position in the family in an agrarian environment. This positively affected the neighbouring women and made them engage in income-generating activities, breaking the cultural traditions of non-participation of women in outside work and patriarchal subjugation, prevalent in peasant societies of India.

Suggested Citation

  • Bidhan Kanti Das & Nabanita Guha, 2016. "How do Women Respond in the Context of Acquisition of Agricultural Land? A Micro Level Study in Semi-urban South Bengal, India," Indian Journal of Human Development, , vol. 10(2), pages 253-269, August.
  • Handle: RePEc:sae:inddev:v:10:y:2016:i:2:p:253-269
    DOI: 10.1177/0973703016654564
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Abhijit Guha, 2013. "The Macro-Costs of Forced Displacement of the Farmers in India: A Micro-Level Study," The European Journal of Development Research, Palgrave Macmillan;European Association of Development Research and Training Institutes (EADI), vol. 25(5), pages 797-814, December.
    2. Ranjit Dwivedi, 1999. "Displacement, Risks and Resistance: Local Perceptions and Actions in the Sardar Sarovar," Development and Change, International Institute of Social Studies, vol. 30(1), pages 43-78, January.
    3. Cernea, Michael, 1997. "The risks and reconstruction model for resettling displaced populations," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 25(10), pages 1569-1587, October.
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    1. Nhung Pham Thi & Martin Kappas & Daniel Wyss, 2020. "Benefits and Constraints of the Agricultural Land Acquisition for Urbanization for Household Gender Equality in Affected Rural Communes: A Case Study in Huong Thuy Town, Thua Thien Hue Province, Vietn," Land, MDPI, vol. 9(8), pages 1-19, July.

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