National Convention on Development, Displacement and Rehabilitation held in New Delhi
2004-12-09

Around 400 people, representing over sixty organisations and people’s movements, including victims of displacement, social activists, researchers, students, and academicians from around the country participated in the two-day convention that reflected on, questioned, and analysed issues related to development, displacement and rehabilitation.

The convention was called in order to question the paradigm of fast track development, which through undemocratic processes and unjust impacts is encroaching on people’s lives and destroying livelihoods; to discuss the draft rehabilitation policy; and to propose displacement-free alternative sustainable models of development.

It was convened by the National Alliance of People’s Movements – Andhra Pradesh Agricultural Labourers’ Union, National Fish Workers Forum, Lokayan, Shoshit Jan Andolan and Shahar Vikas Manch (Maharashtra), Narmada Bachao Andolan, Abhiyan; Delhi Forum; Indian Social Institute; Habitat International Coalition – Housing and Land Rights Network; Matu Jana Sangathan, Dilli Vikas Manch; and Rajendra Prasad Academy, New Delhi.

The former Prime Minister Mr. V.P. Singh during the keynote address, called on beneficiaries of development projects to take on the responsibility of proper rehabilitation of affected persons. Welcoming the participants, Medha Patkar – national convenor of the National Alliance of People’s Movements (NAPM) – pointed out that despite the solemn promise made by the United Progressive Alliance government about just and full resettlement of project affected persons, it has not initiated any dialogue with organisations fighting for people’s rights. She made it clear that the real issue is not only resettlement but also that of lopsided development and erosion of people’s rights. The politics of people’s movements must be linked with parliamentary and party politics, and people’s struggle is the only way ahead.

Mr. P.R. Dasmunshi, the Union Water Resources Minister, addressed the gathering on Wednesday (December 1, 2004), and affirmed, “No project in the country will be given a green signal unless and until there is a guarantee of complete rehabilitation.”

The participants also discussed and released a declaration that calls for a people-centred approach to development planning; one that minimises displacement, promotes just and fair rehabilitation while giving primacy to people’s rights, provides land-for-land, and restores lost livelihoods.

Participants stressed that unless all displaced people from all development projects in a region or river valley were fully rehabilitated, no new projects should be sanctioned. They condemned all forced evictions, called for a National Commission on Development, Displacement and Rehabilitation, urged for a human rights-based approach to development, in particular one that focuses on the rights of adivasis, rural and urban poor, women, farmers, labourers, fisher people, and other marginalized groups. They also called for a strong and legally enforceable right to information and participation in all planning processes in order to ensure equitable and just development.