2 minSocial Issue
Social Issue

Displacement and Rehabilitation

What is Displacement and Rehabilitation?

Displacement refers to the involuntary movement of people from their homes and livelihoods due to various factors like natural disasters, development projects, or conflict. Rehabilitation is the process of restoring the displaced persons' living standards, livelihoods, and social environment, often involving resettlement and compensation.

Historical Background

India has experienced significant internal displacement since independence, primarily due to large-scale development projects (dams, mines, industrial corridors) and recurrent natural disasters (floods, droughts, earthquakes). Early rehabilitation efforts were often ad-hoc, leading to social unrest. This led to the evolution of more structured policies and legal frameworks over time.

Key Points

8 points
  • 1.

    Causes of displacement include natural disasters (e.g., 1973 Sabarmati floods), development projects (e.g., dams, highways, SEZs), urbanization, and environmental degradation.

  • 2.

    Impacts are severe, including loss of livelihood, housing, social networks, cultural identity, and psychological trauma.

  • 3.

    Key principles of rehabilitation include in-situ rehabilitation (if feasible), resettlement with dignity, livelihood restoration, and community participation in planning.

  • 4.

    Compensation typically involves fair market value for land/property, additional solatium, provision of alternative housing, and assistance for employment or skill development.

  • 5.

    Special attention is required for vulnerable groups such as tribals, women, children, and the landless, who are disproportionately affected.

  • 6.

    Challenges include inadequate compensation, delays in rehabilitation, lack of proper planning, social resistance, and difficulties in identifying and verifying beneficiaries.

  • 7.

    The process often requires coordination between central, state, and local governments, along with NGOs and civil society organizations.

  • 8.

    Aims to ensure that displaced persons are at least as well off, if not better, than they were before displacement.

Visual Insights

Evolution of Displacement and Rehabilitation Policies in India

Shows the historical progression of policies and events related to displacement and rehabilitation in India.

Displacement in India has evolved from development projects to include climate-induced factors. Policies have aimed to improve rehabilitation, but challenges remain.

  • 1894Land Acquisition Act: Provided for land acquisition but lacked adequate rehabilitation provisions.
  • 1950s-60sLarge-scale displacement due to dam construction (e.g., Bhakra Nangal Dam).
  • 2007National Rehabilitation and Resettlement Policy (NRRP) introduced, aiming for a more comprehensive approach.
  • 2013Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013 replaced the 1894 Act.
  • 2023Increased focus on climate-induced displacement.
  • 2024Use of GIS mapping for resettlement planning.
  • 2026TIC criticizes Assam government's handling of displaced families.

Displacement and Rehabilitation: A Comprehensive Overview

Illustrates the various aspects and interconnectedness of displacement and rehabilitation.

Displacement & Rehabilitation

  • Causes of Displacement
  • Legal Framework
  • Rehabilitation Measures
  • Challenges

Recent Developments

5 developments

Increased focus on disaster-resilient infrastructure and early warning systems to minimize displacement caused by natural calamities.

Debates continue on balancing development imperatives with the rights and welfare of displaced populations, particularly for large infrastructure projects.

Supreme Court judgments have consistently emphasized the need for adequate and timely rehabilitation, upholding the 'right to life' of displaced persons.

Emphasis on Social Impact Assessment (SIA) before undertaking projects that may cause large-scale displacement, as mandated by the LARR Act.

Efforts to integrate climate change adaptation and mitigation strategies into disaster management and rehabilitation planning.

This Concept in News

3 topics

TIC Criticizes Assam Government's Handling of Displaced Families' Situation

20 Feb 2026

This news demonstrates the practical challenges in implementing the concept of displacement and rehabilitation. (1) It highlights the gap between policy and practice, showing that even with laws in place, displaced families may not receive adequate support. (2) The news challenges the assumption that government resettlement policies are always effective and equitable. It suggests that there may be issues with transparency, accountability, and the involvement of affected communities. (3) It reveals the need for greater scrutiny of government actions related to displacement and rehabilitation. (4) The implications of this news are that the government needs to improve its implementation of existing laws and policies, ensure greater transparency and accountability, and involve affected communities in the decision-making process. (5) Understanding this concept is crucial for analyzing the news because it provides a framework for evaluating the government's response to displacement and assessing whether it is meeting its obligations to protect the rights of displaced persons.

Ken-Betwa River Linking Project Protest Turns Violent in M.P.

12 Feb 2026

The Ken-Betwa river linking project protest exemplifies how development projects can lead to displacement, triggering social unrest when rehabilitation is inadequate. This news highlights the critical aspect of ensuring fair compensation and livelihood restoration for affected populations. The violence underscores the failure of the project proponents to adequately address the concerns of the local communities, challenging the principles of participatory development and social justice. The news reveals that despite the existence of the LARR Act and NRRP, implementation gaps and a lack of trust between project authorities and affected communities persist. The implications of this news are that future development projects must prioritize community engagement, transparent communication, and robust rehabilitation plans to avoid similar conflicts. Understanding the concept of displacement and rehabilitation is crucial for analyzing this news because it provides a framework for evaluating the project's social impact and the government's response to the concerns of the affected communities. Without this understanding, it is impossible to assess the fairness and sustainability of the project.

J&K Government Drops Dal Lake Resettlement Project After 17 Years

8 Feb 2026

The Dal Lake case demonstrates the complexities of displacement and rehabilitation in practice. (1) It highlights the importance of considering the social and cultural ties of communities to their environment. (2) The failure of the resettlement project suggests that top-down approaches are often ineffective and that community involvement is crucial. (3) The shift to an 'eco-hamlet' model reflects a growing understanding of the interconnectedness of human communities and ecosystems. (4) The implications of this news are that rehabilitation plans must be more holistic and sustainable, taking into account the needs and perspectives of affected communities. (5) Understanding the concept of displacement and rehabilitation is crucial for analyzing this news because it allows us to critically evaluate the government's approach and assess the potential impacts on the Dal Lake community and ecosystem.

Source Topic

TIC Criticizes Assam Government's Handling of Displaced Families' Situation

Social Issues

UPSC Relevance

Highly relevant for UPSC GS Paper 1 (Social Issues), GS Paper 2 (Governance, Social Justice), and GS Paper 3 (Disaster Management, Land Reforms). Frequently asked in Mains, often through case studies or questions on policy effectiveness and challenges.

Evolution of Displacement and Rehabilitation Policies in India

Shows the historical progression of policies and events related to displacement and rehabilitation in India.

1894

Land Acquisition Act: Provided for land acquisition but lacked adequate rehabilitation provisions.

1950s-60s

Large-scale displacement due to dam construction (e.g., Bhakra Nangal Dam).

2007

National Rehabilitation and Resettlement Policy (NRRP) introduced, aiming for a more comprehensive approach.

2013

Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013 replaced the 1894 Act.

2023

Increased focus on climate-induced displacement.

2024

Use of GIS mapping for resettlement planning.

2026

TIC criticizes Assam government's handling of displaced families.

Connected to current news

Displacement and Rehabilitation: A Comprehensive Overview

Illustrates the various aspects and interconnectedness of displacement and rehabilitation.

Displacement & Rehabilitation

Climate Change

Land Acquisition

Right to Fair Compensation Act, 2013

Article 21, 300A

In-situ Rehabilitation

Skill Development

Lack of Transparency

Inadequate Compensation

Connections
Causes Of DisplacementLegal Framework
Legal FrameworkRehabilitation Measures
Rehabilitation MeasuresChallenges

This Concept in News

3 news topics

3

TIC Criticizes Assam Government's Handling of Displaced Families' Situation

20 February 2026

This news demonstrates the practical challenges in implementing the concept of displacement and rehabilitation. (1) It highlights the gap between policy and practice, showing that even with laws in place, displaced families may not receive adequate support. (2) The news challenges the assumption that government resettlement policies are always effective and equitable. It suggests that there may be issues with transparency, accountability, and the involvement of affected communities. (3) It reveals the need for greater scrutiny of government actions related to displacement and rehabilitation. (4) The implications of this news are that the government needs to improve its implementation of existing laws and policies, ensure greater transparency and accountability, and involve affected communities in the decision-making process. (5) Understanding this concept is crucial for analyzing the news because it provides a framework for evaluating the government's response to displacement and assessing whether it is meeting its obligations to protect the rights of displaced persons.

Ken-Betwa River Linking Project Protest Turns Violent in M.P.

12 February 2026

The Ken-Betwa river linking project protest exemplifies how development projects can lead to displacement, triggering social unrest when rehabilitation is inadequate. This news highlights the critical aspect of ensuring fair compensation and livelihood restoration for affected populations. The violence underscores the failure of the project proponents to adequately address the concerns of the local communities, challenging the principles of participatory development and social justice. The news reveals that despite the existence of the LARR Act and NRRP, implementation gaps and a lack of trust between project authorities and affected communities persist. The implications of this news are that future development projects must prioritize community engagement, transparent communication, and robust rehabilitation plans to avoid similar conflicts. Understanding the concept of displacement and rehabilitation is crucial for analyzing this news because it provides a framework for evaluating the project's social impact and the government's response to the concerns of the affected communities. Without this understanding, it is impossible to assess the fairness and sustainability of the project.

J&K Government Drops Dal Lake Resettlement Project After 17 Years

8 February 2026

The Dal Lake case demonstrates the complexities of displacement and rehabilitation in practice. (1) It highlights the importance of considering the social and cultural ties of communities to their environment. (2) The failure of the resettlement project suggests that top-down approaches are often ineffective and that community involvement is crucial. (3) The shift to an 'eco-hamlet' model reflects a growing understanding of the interconnectedness of human communities and ecosystems. (4) The implications of this news are that rehabilitation plans must be more holistic and sustainable, taking into account the needs and perspectives of affected communities. (5) Understanding the concept of displacement and rehabilitation is crucial for analyzing this news because it allows us to critically evaluate the government's approach and assess the potential impacts on the Dal Lake community and ecosystem.