Perspectives of the Silent Majority

This title was first published in 2001. This text is an exercise in learning from the voices of the communities living in Indian villages near urban areas. It is concerned, primarily, with learning what these communities have to say on their well-being and livelihoods and is, therefore, an attempt to record and register as much as possible of what these communities say. Agriculture in urban areas of Haryana and Uttar Pradesh plays an important role for livelihoods and in supplying foodstuffs to communities and markets. It constitutes a major source of income both for landowners and labourers. The study then looks at the relationship between agriculture and urban areas, and the phenomenon of industrialization/urbanization. In presenting these perspectives, the farmers gave insights into some related issues such as the role of agriculture in their livelihoods, the nature of agricultural constraints and the the impact of air pollution on quality of life.