Graduation Year
2019
Document Type
Campus Only Senior Thesis
Degree Name
Bachelor of Arts
Department
Environment, Economics and Politics
Reader 1
William Ascher
Reader 2
Roberto Pedace
Terms of Use & License Information
Rights Information
© 2019 Amaani Mehra
Abstract
India has ambitious targets to develop extensive renewable energy infrastructure by 2022. These targets are driven by the country’s pressing environmental and demographic concerns. While the development of such infrastructure can have many benefits, the costs of are often disproportionately borne by some of the most impoverished groups due to land acquisition and displacement. Land acquisition often occurs in rural areas, where the majority of the population are farmers or tribal groups. While there are laws to protect the rights of these groups, the effectiveness of these laws is often undermined by state governments that prioritize investment. Looking at the development of solar, wind, and small hydropower, the various impacts on rural communities are evident. Without adequate compensation for the loss of land and the suffering caused by displacement, these groups can often be left worse off than before. Government support needs to be carried out in a way that encourages maximum deployment, while also enforcing regulations that protect the rights of rural communities.
Recommended Citation
Mehra, Amaani, "Is India's Push for Renewables a Shove to its Impoverished Communities?" (2019). Scripps Senior Theses. 1335.
https://scholarship.claremont.edu/scripps_theses/1335
This thesis is restricted to the Claremont Colleges current faculty, students, and staff.
