A controversial bill on land acquisition has caused uproar in India, with opponents saying it will hurt the interests of farmers. The bill eases rules for acquiring land for specific projects. The government says it is aimed at kick-starting stalled projects across the country worth billions of dollars. Sanjoy Chakravorty, author of a book on conflicts over land in India, explains the issues.
Why is land so important in India?
Land is India’s scarcest resource and the source of livelihood for over half its population.
The average size of land owned by a farmer was a mere three acres a decade ago; it’s even less now.
In states like Kerala, Bihar, West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh and Tamil Nadu, the average holding is between half an acre and two acres.
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