Paper short abstract:

The study aims to look at the changing agrarian social structures and the confrontations between people and the State sponsored strategies of development. Through this paper the author will try to unveil the shifts in agrarian social structure and the changes within the same.

Paper long abstract:

Generally agrarian structure refers to the arrangements under which the relations of production revolve. These relations to a very large extent revolve around the networks of kinship and family. Assam too follows a similar pattern of agrarian social structure.

The present study however aims to look at the agrarian social structure and the changes which have emerged within it. In most of the villages across the state there is a shift in this structure. It is also seen that an inclination towards non agricultural activities have increased over the period of time. This shift is a result of withering common property resources which were available earlier and used by the communities. This results in a constant trend of seasonal out migration to industrial centers of other places of India. This process of out migration today questions the contours of State initiated developmental programs.

This paper aims to look at the changing agrarian social structure in a village of Assam located in the northeastern part of India. This paper attempts to understand the changing pattern of agrarian structure with the advent of market economy and would try to bring out the points of confrontation between people and the State sponsored strategies of development.

Key word: Agrarian Social Structure, Development, Common property resources.