Recent data shows 60 million people displaced since independence, with 40% being tribals, highlighting how displacement-rehabilitation axis dominates India's tribal development discourse.

Displacement as a Central Axis

Development-Induced Displacement:

• Mining Projects: Odisha's Niyamgiri Hills (Vedanta), Jharkhand's coal mining displacing over 2.55 lakh tribals annually
• Dam Construction: Sardar Sarovar Project displaced 40,000 tribal families; Polavaram Project affecting 2.75 lakh people
• Industrial Corridors: Delhi-Mumbai Industrial Corridor impacting tribal lands across 6 states
• Forest Conservation: Project Tiger and Protected Areas leading to eviction of forest-dwelling tribes
• Infrastructure Projects: Dedicated Freight Corridors and highway expansion through tribal heartlands

Rehabilitation as Corrective Response

Policy Framework & Implementation:

• Forest Rights Act 2006: 1.8 crore claims filed, only 54% approved indicating gaps in rehabilitation
• PESA Act 1996: Gram Sabha powers for natural resource management in Fifth Schedule areas
• PM-JANMAN Scheme 2023: ₹15,000 crore for 75 PVTG groups across 18 states
• Land Acquisition Act 2013: Mandatory 80% consent and R&R package for affected families
• Tribal Sub-Plan: 8.6% of total budget allocation for tribal development

Beyond the Displacement-Rehabilitation Framework

Emerging Paradigms:

• Community-Led Development: Nagaland's village councils managing development funds autonomously
• Eco-Tourism Models: Kerala's Wayanad tribes benefiting from sustainable tourism
• Traditional Knowledge Systems: CSIR's collaboration with tribes for medicinal plant conservation
• Skill Development: National Skill Development Mission covering 50 tribal districts
• Financial Inclusion: Jan Dhan accounts reaching 85% tribal households

While displacement-rehabilitation remains significant, modern tribal development transcends this binary through community participation, cultural preservation, and sustainable livelihoods. The Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers Act exemplifies this evolved approach toward inclusive development.