om e 's Ali a - Land ss De elo en - Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung, India Office

Introduction
Government machinery under the
liberalised economy since the early
1990s, has become increasingly
insensitive to the interests of the
poor and powerless, as also to basic
humanitarian values. For over a
decade-and-a-half the government
has been pushing the agenda of
the corporate sector, resulting
in unprecedented trauma to the
peasantry and other marginalised
people depending on land and
natural resources, including
forests and water, for survival. The
liberal grant of mining leases to
international and national corporate
giants in the mineral rich states of
Orissa, Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh,
together constitute 145 memoranda
of understanding (MoUs). Similarly,
in agriculturally advanced regions
of the country such as West Bengal,
Punjab, Haryana, and western Uttar
Pradesh a large number of special
economic zones (SEZs) are being
created, misinterpreting the ‘public
purpose’ provision in the Land
Acquisition Act.
In this era of globalisation, aggressive
economic growth and development,
a minister in the Rajasthan
government has aptly said: ‘rapid
industrialisation is the stated priority
and the Governments are committed
to provide an environment that is
business friendly and enabling in
nature. Our focus on three core
requisite components viz., roads,
power and skilled human resources
will ensure that investors get a highly
conducive atmosphere for setting up
their ventures across Rajasthan.’
The onset of globalisation and the
opening up of world markets have
led to a greater demand on resources.
India’s liberalisation policy and open
market reforms have meant a growth
opportunity on the one hand and
a cause for greater marginalisation
of the poor on the other. So-called
“development projects” such as
setting up industries, mines, dams,
and shopping malls have induced
large-scale displacement not only
in India, but all over the world.
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