Land needed for mining, dams and other large-scale projects is acquired mostly from Adivasis, hill dwellers and rural communities. The displaced persons are paid monetary compensation as per the legal provisions. However, the payment is often tardy. In any case, hit cannot sustain the displaced families for long. These people do not possess marketable skills to engage in some other accusation. They end up as low paid migrant laborers. Moreover, their development go to industries, industrialists and urban communities whereas the costs are passed on to these poor helpless people. This unjust distribution of costs and benefits is unethical. Suppose you have been entrusted with the task of drafting a better compensation-cum-rehabilitation policy for such displaced persons, how would you approach the problem and what would be the main elements of your suggested policy?
Land needed for mining, dams and other large-scale projects is acquired mostly from Adivasis, hill dwellers and rural communities. The displaced persons are paid monetary compensation as per the legal provisions. However, the payment is often tardy. In any case, hit cannot sustain the displaced families for long. These people do not possess marketable skills to engage in some other accusation. They end up as low paid migrant laborers. Moreover, their development go to industries, industrialists and urban communities whereas the costs are passed on to these poor helpless people. This unjust distribution of costs and benefits is unethical. Suppose you have been entrusted with the task of drafting a better compensation-cum-rehabilitation policy for such displaced persons, how would you approach the problem and what would be the main elements of your suggested policy?
The case presents a critical ethical challenge of distributive justice where marginalized communities bear disproportionate costs of development while benefits accrue to urban populations and industries. This represents a fundamental conflict between development imperatives and social equity, highlighting systemic failures in India's compensation mechanisms.
Stakeholders
- Primary Stakeholders: Displaced Adivasis, hill dwellers, rural communities, their families and future generations
- Secondary Stakeholders: Government agencies, project developers, urban beneficiaries, civil society organizations, local administration
Approach to the Problem
- Participatory Assessment: Conduct comprehensive socio-economic surveys involving affected communities in identifying their actual needs beyond monetary compensation
- Rights-Based Framework: Adopt FPIC (Free, Prior, Informed Consent) principles ensuring communities have genuine decision-making power over displacement
- Holistic Impact Analysis: Evaluate cultural, environmental, and livelihood disruptions alongside economic losses using Social Impact Assessment protocols
- Stakeholder Consultation: Establish multi-tier consultation mechanisms involving Gram Sabhas, traditional councils, and community representatives throughout policy formulation
- Baseline Documentation: Create detailed records of existing livelihoods, skills, social structures, and cultural practices to design targeted rehabilitation measures
- Intergenerational Perspective: Consider long-term impacts on children's education, women's security, and elderly care within displaced families
Main Elements of Suggested Policy
- Land-for-Land Compensation: Provide equivalent cultivable land with similar productivity levels, implementing Article 46 directive for Scheduled Tribe welfare
- Skill Development Integration: Mandatory vocational training aligned with Skill India Mission, focusing on locally relevant trades and modern agricultural techniques
- Employment Guarantee: Reserve 33% jobs in project construction and operations for displaced families, with apprenticeship programs for youth
- Community Infrastructure: Establish schools, healthcare centers, and cultural spaces in rehabilitation sites, maintaining social cohesion and traditional practices
- Livelihood Diversification: Provide SHG formation support, micro-credit access, and market linkages for alternative income sources like handicrafts and organic farming
- Monitoring Mechanism: Create independent Rehabilitation Committees with community representation, conducting quarterly reviews and grievance redressal
- Insurance Coverage: Comprehensive health and crop insurance for 10 years post-displacement, ensuring economic security during transition periods
This comprehensive approach transforms displacement from mere compensation to sustainable rehabilitation, ensuring development benefits reach those who sacrifice most. As emphasized, "True development is that which empowers the last person in the queue."
Answer Length
Model answers may exceed the word limit for better clarity and depth. Use them as a guide, but always frame your final answer within the exam’s prescribed limit.
In just 60 sec
Evaluate your handwritten answer
- Get detailed feedback
- Model Answer after evaluation
Model Answers by Subject
Crack UPSC with your
Personal AI Mentor
An AI-powered ecosystem to learn, practice, and evaluate with discipline
