3. Problems & Concerns
We are benefitted manifold times
through developmental projects like
construction of dams, mining, creation
of national parks, etc, but quite often,
the native people of the project sites
are displaced from their home land.
6. Displacement due to Dams.
Millions of people were displaced during the big
river valley projects like Hirakund Dam
(Orissa), Bhakra Nangal Dam ( Punjab),
Srisailam Dam ( Andhra Pradesh), Pond Dam
(Himachal Pradesh) and have made refugees
in their own home lands.
Case of Tehri Dam (Uttaranchal) on the river
Bhagirathi, would directly have an immediate
impact on the 10,000 residents of Tehri town
and the rehabilitation over here has become
much more of a burning issue.
8. Case Study : Sardar Sarover
Project
Plans to build 30 big, 135 medium and 3000 minor
dams on Narmada River.
Tributaries estimated to submerge 573 villages
consisting of about 3 lakh people.
Traumatic experience for the natives.
Families disintegrate.
Tribals pay the price for the nation’s happiness.
In return, they should be provided with
compensation in the form of land, cash or jobs,
etc.
12. Case Study : Jharia Coal Fields,
Jharkhand
Major problems caused due to underground
fires and residents are asked to vacate.
Till now, there is no alternative land and
rehabilitation package for them.
Latest estimates show that about Rs.18,000
crores will be spent for shifting Jharia 0.3
million people while the cost for extinguishing
the fire would be around 8000 crore.
15. Displacement due to National
Parks.
When a forest area is converted into a
national park, it deprives the local dwellers
of their ancestral rights. As a result, the
tribals protest by starting destructive
activities.
16.
17. Case Study : Wayanad Wildlife
Sanctuary
Happened in Kerala.
Displaced 53,472 tribal families but till
2003, only 843 families could get the
land.
Tribals felt betrayed and have started
encroachment into the forest.
This led to violent encounters with the
forest officials.
18.
19. Rehabilitation Issues
The United Nations Universal Declaration on
Human Rights [(Article 25 (1)] has declared that
housing is a Basic Human Right.
According to the Land Acquisition Right,1894
the government is empowered to serve notice
to the people to vacate their lands if there is a
need as per government planning.
Provision of cash compensation in lieu of the
land vacated exists in section 16 of the Act.
20. Major Issues Related To
Displacement & Rehabilitation
Kinship systems, marriages, social and
cultural functions vanish with their
displacement.
Loss of identity and intimate link between
people and environment is one of the biggest
loss.
21. Displacement of already poor tribes increases
their poverty.
Tribes aren’t familiar with market policies and
trends.
22. Rehabilitation Policy
There is a need for comprehensive
National Rehabilitation Policy- Land for
Land is a better policy than cash
settlements of displaced people.
23. Following objectives should be
considered:
Displaced should be rehabilitated within their
own environment.
Necessary services should be provided to
continue agriculture in the new areas.
Tribals should be provided vocational training
and job opportunities.
They should be given modular house designs
and necessary help during reconstruction.
Displaced persons should be provided monetary
aid and post-resettlement services.
24. Case Studies
In case of Sardar Sarovar Project,
Gujarat Government has decided that
each landed oustee shall be entitled to
allotment to irrigable land in the state
which he chooses for his resettlement.
The area of land = owned by him earlier.
Min. land=2 hectares.
25. The case of Pong Dam is different.
The dam was constructed on Beas river in
Himachal Pradesh in 1960, while it was a
part of Punjab.
The water is harnessed to irrigate
Rajasthan. So Rajasthan agreed to provide
land to oustees in the command area of
Indira Gandhi Canal.
But only, 16,000 families out of 30,000
families could be settled and that too in
desert bordering Pakistan.
26. There is a need to raise public
awareness on these issues to
bring the resettlement plans on
a humane footing and to honor
the human rights of the
oustees.