Land acquisition and rural transformation

Abstract

This paper is an outcome of a household survey conducted in Rajarhat, a place in West Bengal that witnessed the largest dispossession of farmers from their land in the last three decades for the establishment of business hubs, industrial technology (IT) parks, and dwelling units. The study substantiates that large-scale acquisition of agricultural land has transformed the rural livelihood structure of the workforce of dispossessed households in three ways. First, the share of non-farm workers has increased dramatically; second, the majority of these workers have established a foothold in various self-employment and nonfarm economic activities; and third, a small proportion remains unemployed in the post-acquisition stage. The temporary work opportunities created by the government for dispossessed households are not inclusive, and dispossessed households that are well-linked with the local governance have gained more in securing these opportunities.