Development vs Displacement in India

Over numerous years many developed or developing countries focused on various developmental projects. Development is a process that creates growth, progress, positive change, or the addition of physical, economic, environmental, and social. The term itself reflects that development means a positive change of society as a whole and includes not only political and economic system, but also social relationships, culture, values, and ways of life based on certain principles. For living standards of people, there must be development without it no progress or growth.

Basic necessary infrastructures like dams, power stations, irrigation facilities, reservoirs or oil, railways, roads, shipping, and established industries. These infrastructures are required not only to improve the lives of people but also to employment and services etc…While such projects can bring enormous benefits to society but millions of people are forcibly displaced by development projects. Displacement, resettlement, and rehabilitation have been serious concerns for all developing countries including India. Millions of people were displaced through different kinds of projects in India, majority of them was tribal community.

According to census 2011, tribals constitute 104 Million of the overall Indian population making it 8.6% of the total population. Major tribal population states in India are Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Orissa, Gujarat, Rajasthan, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, Andhra Pradesh, West Bengal, and Karnataka.

Flaws in the implementation of such projects:

Ø Lack of providing basic services or facilities to displaced people.

Ø Skilled labor shortage.

Ø Unable to ensure safety.

Ø Failure to be consulted and informed.

Ø Absence of Advance and Comprehensive Planning for Rehabilitation.

In my opinion, I would like to suggest implementing a colony that has features stated under the following for displaced people to restore their life:
 Restriction of wage work, factories, companies, roads, railways etc…. in the resettlement colony, displaced people may migrate sometimes outside the district and even the state, so the resettlement colony should be restricted strictly for any projects.
 Providing basic services or facilities to the colony of the displaced people.
 Understanding the socio-economic characteristics of displaced families.
By knowing the status of the displaced people like:
 For displaced tribals identifying the factors responsible for non-restoration of livelihood.
 Knowing the utilization of compensation money because the efforts should not be veined.
 The post and pre-rehabilitation conditions of people should be documented by conducting group discussions of displaced family members.
 Displaced people's views regarding the whole process of displacement and rehabilitation, and knowing their need for new opportunities should be concerned while designing the rehabilitation colony.
 Considering all the aspects of families by group discussions and their traditions, values, and health conditions.

Displaced people too deserve the right to live with dignity, of which they should not be deprived of in any situation. Development is really important both in an economic and social sense until there is no such a paradoxical situation. The land is not just property, it’s also home of memories and attachment which a person develops.

“HOME IS WHERE OUR STORY BEGINS, NEVER FORGET WHERE WE DEVELOPED FROM.”