The Economics and Politics of Resettlement in India

Chapter 1

Resettlement and Rehabilitation: The New Indian Policy

N.C. Saxena

Introduction

The compulsory acquisition of land for public purposes and for public sector or private sector companies displaces people, forcing them to give up their home, assets, means of livelihood and vocation and to reside elsewhere and start their life all over again. This has been an important reason for pauperization of affected families, sometimes leading them to destitution, bereft of shelter and assets. The presumption that displacement is an inevitable consequence of all development efforts needs to be reassessed in the light of the enormous human costs and suffering caused by such projects. The need to avoid such large-scale displacement, particularly of ...