URBANIZATION, DISPLACEMENT AND REHABILITATION: A Study of People Affected by Land Acquisition

Expansion of cities results in the forced displacement of lakhs of people, which in turn, creates social tensions within families and communities. The affected people live under conditions of deprivation and hardship. The impact is crucial on their behaviour and social structure. Besides this, resettlement has never been a happy experience.

In this book, an attempt has been made to identify the effects of urban displacement on existing social organization, kinship ties and cultural milieu. The networks of local groups and property dealers have been analyzed in the context of social conflicts between urban organizations and people of different castes and classes. The study also focuses on the process of land acquisition, payment of compensation and its utilization. The areas of resettlement cover procurement of alternative land, social obligations, occupational change, movement, relocation and rehabilitation. Besides, the government resettlement and rehabilitation policies have been reviewed along with their implications. A sociological perspective on urban displacement has been presented for a future dialogue on approaches to urban development.

Mohan Advani had been Professor of Sociology and Director of Population Research Centre in the Mohan Lal Sukhadia University, Udaipur. He was also Director of the Regional Training and Resource Development Centre sponsored by the Population Foundation of India. He has carried out many national and international projects. His work on resettlement and rehabilitation includes four action projects for the Hindustan Zinc Limited and one major research project for the University Grants Commission.

He has published over forty papers in professional journals. At present, he is Director of the Institute of Rehabilitation and Development Studies, Udaipur.