ABSTRACT
Human society has the tendency to normalise problems that occur frequently. Climate-induced displacement is one such problem that is gradually being normalised by society as well as governance structures. That is the reason the latter develop a tendency to overlook the special policy needs of climate-induced displaced people. Instead, they focus on welfare measures to help them in various ways to overcome the effects and trauma faced due to displacement. Welfare measures to support people displaced by climate change are important to provide them with means and amenities required by every citizen of a nation. But such welfare programmes should be backed by policy measures that support the right to a dignified life for these affected people. The right to stay or move, in the context of climate change, needs to be governed by policies and plans for which governments at all levels should work together along with other stakeholders. This would pave the way of ensuring climate justice for the affected communities.
In this chapter, we highlight the ever-growing problem of climate-induced displacement. With increased extreme weather events and related disasters, floods and droughts are forcing people to migrate out of their homes to relatively safer places. Currently, more people are displaced within their own countries than ever before due to conflicts and climate change. The number of internally displaced people (IDPs) is growing by the year. In fact, it has doubled over the last one decade according to a United Nations report on internal displacement (United Nations, 2021). Women, children, and other marginalised sections of society suffer the most. Vulnerabilities of some of the climate-displaced communities of India, especially in the Bay of Bengal coastal areas, will be in focus. We also discuss issues regarding policy measures that support these communities. It is important to talk about the need to prepare an inclusive strategy to rehabilitate these internally displaced people suitably with their rights and dignity ensured. That, indeed, would mean real climate justice.
