ABSTRACT
Development is a paramount interest of a state and an all-embracing phenomenon. While the developmental projects enormously benefit the society, they also bring about profound disruption to the economic and socio-cultural bearing of the people. Developmental projects create large-scale displacement of the population: voluntary and involuntary. Despite the compensation provided by the government and private companies, existing laws ensuring their rights, it is not sufficient in itself to re-establish their lives. This chapter is an attempt to discuss the economic, sociological and psychological impacts which surround involuntary displacements. The chapter looks at two specific dimensions of the existing Act of The Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency of Land Acquisition and Rehabilitation and Resettlement (2013): what has been done and what remains to be done. It comprises two case studies – the Kudankulam nuclear power plant and Thervoy Kandigai–Kannankottai reservoir project – to critically analyze the stated dimensions. Ineffective resettlement and improper governmental policies give rise to imperative issues like acute violation of human rights occurred due to impoverishment, landlessness, unemployment, hunger and several others. The government needs to become more accountable to the reparation and rehabilitation of the displaced persons.
