Crime, Deprivation and Social Sustainability—Evidence across States in India

Abstract

We focus in this article on the dimension of social sustainability of the development process— particularly on the determining factors of social tension which results in social disruption in violent forms of the different types of crime—murder, property-related, riots in the presence of polarization and Left-wing insurgency across major states in India. This article makes an attempt to explore the role of economic deprivation—thus, resulting in economic inequality and poverty in addition to infrastructural and other socio-economic developmental factors in determining such crimes in this context. While economic growth has a definite positive role in abating such violent forms of crime and their associated tension, the development strategy should give high priority to literacy, internal security and human development for building up peace and a socially sustainable society in India.