Land acquisition (LA) in India is associated with development paradigm and economic growth through industrialisation. India being predominantly agriculturebased society, land is not only used for food production or is a source of livelihood but also is a symbol of social identity, status, power and wealth. Loss of land due to various development projects in different parts of India thus came under scanner from civil society actors, especially the displaced and project-affected population (PAP) since the early 1980s, and the extent and impact of land acquisition were questioned stridently. Large-scale displacement, multiple displacements and associated impoverishment, socio-cultural alienation and uprootedness became points of contention against rampant and greedy land acquisition. Emphasis on rehabilitation and resettlement (R&R) increased along with land acquisition and displacement for restoration of lives of the PAPs. Demands for effective R&R became louder in 1990s and was promoted as a prerequisite of land acquisition. Government of India recognised LA and R&R as two sides of one coin through legislative process which started in early 21st century. Land acquisition as a process by the state is contested for years on ground of 'eminent domain' and 'public purpose' for private industries.This special issue of the journal strives for presenting historical and contemporary debates comprehensively, and pitching the debate on new scale with newer dimensions of land acquisition, displacement and R&R (LADRR) from the perspective of policy framing. Performative reviews of land acquisition have shown lapses committed by the administrative officers in LARR, and the greed of corporates and other institutions acquiring land. In order to rationalise land acquisition, minimise displacement and develop R&R packages that restore lives of the PAP, policy framing needs to address the following aspects systematically. Role of the government in the process of LA needs to be clarified, especially in the context of diverse development projects, for private industries and other institutions. A need for exploring various types of LA models has emerged, namely, land leasing, land purchase, tripartite land acquisition model of the USA, etc. Hence, various types of assessments-social, economic and environmentalprior to LA need to be strived; such assessments are seen as strengthening democratic process as well as participatory and transparent governance. One of the main justifications for LA is the economic growth of the country and only agricultural economy cannot be sufficient and sustainable. In this context, Journal of Land and Rural Studies 4(1) 1-2
The processes of land acquisition (LA) rehabilitation and resettlement (R&R) in India has progressed to a very contentious extent, as conveyed by series of mass protests, non-cooperation of political parties, and impulsion expressed by the present government and corporates for acceptance of the LARR Ordinance, 2015. Any issue under contention is debated with argument, counter-argument, action and counter-actions. Such process evolves a language of rights-the rights demanded by the citizens, especially the project-affected population, different interest-holders and rights recognised by the state. The article maps out the journey of language of rights in the context of multi-faceted issues of LA, development-induced displacement and R&R (LADRR) over last three decades, that is, 1985 to the present. The right's perspective focuses on three components-characteristics of rights, how rights are derived and role of state and its institutions in recognising and actualising rights. Based on this mapping, the article examines whether there exist some common grounds for actualisation of rights through existing legislative processes for LARR.
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