Land dispossession, aspirational asymmetries and dilemmas of the rural youth

Abstract

ABSTRACT Compulsory land acquisition has time and again resulted in disruption of local communities in multiple ways. However, this process has often been justified as an important transitional stage for rural populations to move towards urbanisation and development. This paper looks at the case of a village in district Faridabad (in the state of Haryana), where land was acquired for purposes of setting up an Industrial Model Township (IMT). It is argued that land dispossession, in the case of prosperous rural communities, has resulted in the loss of livelihood and location. While the transition from owners to rentiers has been particularly traumatic for the older generation, the younger generation face new dilemmas pertaining to their identity and livelihood choices. Assured rent has enhanced family incomes. This has reduced the need to engage with agriculture which youth from the dominant castes wished to relinquish even otherwise. However, the jobs that are available are not commensurate to the social status that the youth from the dominant castes aspire for. Apart from these aspirational asymmetries, monetisation of assets has unleashed consumerism, conspicuous consumption and an identity crisis for the youth.