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The subject globalization is divisive, and the issues it brings about are discordant especially to those who are working for the cause of defeating disparity in the society. There are contentions put forth that globalization is for the moneyed and the knowledgeable and that it does not serve the purpose of ensuring economic equality or achieving social justice. Many of these statements made come from abstract thinking, gut feeling and at the most from the analysis of macro level scenarios that is emerging either within India or from countries that have attempted implementing the neo-liberal economic policies. However, there is hardly any evidence of empirical research undertaken to shift the rhetoric from grounded reality to speak authentically what is globalization delivering to the poor. This book fills that gap. All the chapters in this book are based on empirical research on each of the controversial issue that globalization has brought about in Tamil Nadu. The basic premises or the trigger to initiate these studies have been voices, with a tinge of globalization policies, from various villages of Tamil Nadu during post-liberalization era. The focus of analysis and discussions has been if liberalization policies and the globalization process benefit the rural poor in general and rural pursuits in particular. Each chapter covers one area of rural sector with a view to figure out the changes and the results of the changes that are taking place in a given sector under the changing politico-economic milieu of the country. It also gives a set of suggestions to initiate grassroots level action that can help enhance the benefits and reduce the dangers of globalization. Those interested in understanding the grassroots level realities as a corollary of globalization would find this book interesting and immensely useful. About the Author Prof. Ganapathi Palanithurai, Coordinator in Rajiv Gandhi Chair, Gandhigram Rural Institute, presently heads the Department of Political Science and Development Administration, Gandhigram Rural University, Tamil Nadu. He is also Associated with Centre Planning Commission, State Planning Commission of Tamil Nadu, Population Foundation of India, Ford Foundation, UNICEF, Rajiv Gandhi Foundation, CAPART, Ministry of Rural Areas and Employment and DANIDA (Danish-Indo Development Agency) in specific areas of activities in connection with empowerment of people. Prof. Palanithurai has to his credit twenty-nine books and seventy-five articles on three major areas, namely, legislative behaviour, ethnicity and Panchayati Raj system. He was recipient of Fellowship from Sastri Indo-Canadian Institute, New Delhi and World Academy of Art and Science, USA. He is the Chairman of the Tamil Nadu Council for Sustainable Livelihoods. He was a visiting fellow in the MiGill University, Canada in 1989. He is a member of the expert committee constituted by the Government of Tamil Nadu to monitor the training programme for local body leaders. R. Ramesh is currently working as a Project Officer for the Terre Des Hommes-A Netherlands based Organization with its India Country office at Hosur. He worked as a Research Fellow on "Globalization and Decentralization" in Gandhigram Rural University for two years. He has completed his Ph.D. programme in "Community Managed Domestic Water Supply in Tamil Nadu". He is basically a recognized trainer and an action researcher. He has worked for a variety of projects with varied scope and Scale for over 15 years. He also served as a Training Expert for DANIDA assisted project on Water and Sanitation. To his credit he has published several articles in international journals and has co-authored a book title 'Analyzing Community Problems-Tentacles of PRA Methodology'.