DISPLACEMENT:

DEVELOPMENT OR DENIAL OF LIFE???

DYUTI

DISPLACEMENT“Each person possesses an inviolability founded on justice that even the welfare of society as a whole cannot override.”

- John Rawls

Displacement can be defined as the forcing of communities and individuals out of their homes, often also their homelands, for the purpose of economic development.

When, it comes for a developmental activity, it is termed as Development induced Displacement

In the International level, it is considered as a violation of human rights. Throughout the history of mankind, societies have tried to balance between Individual Rights and Power of State.

In India, mostly displacement occurs due to the land acquisition for development. Displacement is often regarded as unavoidable corollary of development.

WHERE ARE THE RIGHTS?????WHERE ARE THE RIGHTS?????

Right to SecurityRight to SurvivalRight to PropertyRight to HomeRight against Exploitation

STATISTICAL DATA

the global population of concern to UNHCR was

estimated at 21.0 million persons, including 8.7 million refugees;

773,000 asylum-seekers; 1.1 million refugees who had repatriated during 2005; 6.6 million internally displaced persons (IDPs)

protected/assisted; 519,000 IDPs who had returned to their place of

origin in 2005; some 2.4 million stateless persons; 960,000 Others of concern.

SOME OF THE MAJOR PROJECTS IN INDIA RELATED TO DISPLACEMENT

Kerala State Transport Project(KSTP)

Migrant Laborers Issues Narmada Valley Development

project Expansion of Trivandrum

airport Muthanga Eviction National Highway project-

Orissa Tribals displaced due to

extremists activities by Maoists (New Delhi)

‘Tata Nano’ Manufacturing Unit, Singur, West Bengal

POLICIES AND SCHEMES BY THE STATE

Land Acquisition Act, 1894 (The only legislation pertaining to land

acquisition currently in place is the Land Acquisition Act, 1894 (“The Act”) which, though amended several times retains its colonial flavor by granting an unfettered powers to the Government.)

Rehabilitation and Resettlement Bill, 2007

IDMC (Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre-1998)

IAY (Indira Aawaz Yojana) National Urban Housing

and habitat Policy

SCHEMES…… BUT THEN WHY???

Too wide a definition of “Public Purpose”…. Are the people being used for Public?

Uncertainty in rehabilitation caused by case-by-case approach

Arbitrary and only monetary compensation… is it just?

No provision for compulsory Social Impact Assessment.

Non-recognition of indigenous rights. Is the government for our people?

PROBLEMS SEEN…… WHY DO WE SEE THIS WHEN WE HAVE THE SCHEMES????

Cultural genocide Loss of traditional means of

employment Disrupted community life and

relationships Marginalization Psychological trauma Deprivation of basic needs Poor becoming poorer Impoverishment and dissatisfaction Loss of productive assets Insecurity