Resettlement and Rehabilitation Policy in Practice

Abstract

Research has documented important findings on the economic, social and psychological impacts of displacement and on experiences with resettlement in India.¹ However, these findings have had little impact on national policy or on official interventions. Despite the magnitude and persistence of displacement and its accompanying traumas, the government has failed to develop a national policy, and, more importantly, to promulgate national and state legislation to defend the interests of people who are forcibly displaced in the national interest (Kothari 1995, Fernandes & Chatterji 1995). An R&R policy for displaced tribals is currently under consideration at the Lok Sabha, but legislation covering all groups is nowhere near.