Resettlement , Rehabilitation and its Issues

Resettlement :

Resettlement is simple relocation or displacement of  human population. This Process does not focus on their future welfare.

Rehabilitation :

Rehabilitation involves making the system to work again by allowing the systems to function naturally. It includes replacing the lost economic assets, safe guard  employment, provide safe land for building, restore social services, repair damaged infrastructures, etc., 

Rehabilitation Issues :

In India, most of the displacements have resulted due to land requirements by the government for various reasons. The government has the Land acquisition Act, 1897 for this purpose, which empowers, the government to serve notice to the people to vacate their land. Provision of cash compensation in lieu of the land vacated exists in the Act.

Important Issues :

1. Tribal are usually the most affected among the displaced, who are already very poor. Displacement further increases their poverty due to loss of home, land, jobs, food security and social Isolation.

2. Break up of  families is an important social issue in which the women are worst affected and they are even not given cash compensation.

3. The land acquisition laws ignore the communal ownership of property, which is an in built system among the tribal.

4.Even if the tribal get cash compensation, they are not familiar with the market policies and trend.

5.Marriages, social and cultural functions, their folk-songs, dances and activities vanish with their displacement.

6.Loss of identity and loss of the intimate link between the people and the environment is one of the big loss.