Marginal Zones: Development-Induced Displacement in Mumbai

There is conclusive evidence that development-induced displacement has an adverse impact upon affected individuals and communities. It causes profound disruptions in people's economic and social life loss of assets and resources, deterioration in kinship networks, social and food security. Displacees are stripped not only of their most sustaining social relationships, but also of the social roles that provide them with culturally defined notions of how they fit into the world. Deprived of a sense of competence, control and belonging, displaced individuals may feel marginalised and suffer from loss of identity. Written in a simple, easy-to-understand style, Marginal Zones contains a sophisticated and insightful analysis of key themes identified, and reflects constructive thinking and reflection. This social-scientific analysis attempts to answer certain ethical questions by highlighting the impact/consequences of displacement, the causal connections between displacement and development, the multidimensional nature of the displacement experience and the importance of choice and informed consent among those displaced. Another addition that Marginal Zones makes to displacement literature is that it presents the voices of a hitherto comparatively neglected segment of society of youth, women, their experiences of displacement, their concerns and how they cope with and adapt to change. The examples highlighted in the book suggest a sensitive treatment and understanding of the subtle nuances of the experiences of the displacees. Above all, it presents a positive view of displacement and sees it as setting the stage for profound social and cultural changes, that opens new vistas of opportunity to the displacees, the chance to acquire new skills and resources that can help them towards effective resettlement. Marginal Zones proposes to regard development-induced displacement as an opportunity for bettering conditions of the displaced people. It proposes a win-win solution that is a shift from the current paradigm.