801.17
Accumulation through Dispossession and the Role of Non-Violent Social Movements in India
Dr. Sampat Kale
Tata Institute of Social Sciences, India
India is in transition and hence experiencing development paradox which has resulted in high complexities and contradictions with the advent of new-liberal state. This paper argues that the pathways of hegemonic development induced in formation of new class of dispossessed and marginalized sections of society. State has become an eminent domain, thus apex power leading violence in several parts of the country. This paper emphases issue of globalization of resources as a agenda of urban fringe, widespread displacement and land alienation of marginalized people, land pooling for real estates, industrialization, urbanization, modernization and swift economic growth and investments.
In recent years, peasants’ and workers movements have been resisting state led land acquisition. However, it has resulted in peaceful dissent to ongoing development paradigms. The contemporary movements are not just advocating the issues of displacement but giving alternatives to development and engaging state. This paper looks at regimes of dispossession and peasants’ opposition to Special Economic Zones (SEZ), Delhi Mumbai Industrial Corridor (DMIC) and Maharashtra Samruddhi Expressway through empirical research. The struggle has primarily taken two forms; some have used violent methods to express resistance and some social movements have employed non-violent strategies of political activism to express their aspirations. In order to protect the rights over livelihood resources many social action groups, advocacy campaigns are engaging in non-violent struggles across the country. This paper argues that non-violent social movements have enhanced spirit of civic engagement, deepening democratic values of the Indian Constitution, Social Justice and Human Rights. It also stresses that the debates need to address policies towards substantive economic growth, elimination of inequalities, social exclusion and regional imbalances.
Date: September 12, 2017