This introductory chapter summarises the main findings about the social impact of the transformative agricultural technologies since the early seventies in one region of northern Tamil Nadu.

Tamil Nadu is a rice growing state in south India. The study is of particular interest as Tamil Nadu governments have a long established, distinctive and competitive politics of rural development and welfarist redistribution.

This chapter highlights the findings of the study conducted in the region. It is divided into four sections : firstly, the impact of the Green Revolution; secondly, trends in real incomes and poverty; thirdly, rural industrialisation and finally the rural impact of India’s economic reforms.