Migrants are Co-Humans: A Theological Probe
--- Richard Lourdu Dass, SJ & Leo Anand, SJ, Arul Kadal Theology Centre, Chennai ---
1.0 Internally Displaced People
In spite of the citizenship, a large number of the people are driven away from their homes as
displaced refugees within their own countries for various reasons. Such refugees are termed as
the Internally Displaced People (IDP). Unlike the nomads who voluntarily migrate, the IDPs are
forcibly thrown out of their own roots.1
The IDPs, in broad terms, could be defined as follows:2
persons or groups of persons who have been forced or obliged to flee or to leave their
homes or places of habitual residence, in particular as a result of or in order to avoid the
effects of armed conflict, situations of generalized violence, violations of human rights or
natural or human-made disasters, and who have not crossed an internationally recognized
State border.
1.1 South Asian Scenario
From 1950 onwards there were riots against the Tamils in Sri Lanka. By 1996 the number
of IDPs was around 800,000.3
shot up again. And further, the so-called war against the LTTE has targeted the Tamils to be
ruthlessly massacred in large numbers. And the surviving ones are kept in captivity under threat
to life in temporary tin sheets behind barbed wires in subhuman conditions.
In Bangladesh shrimp cultivation has left the land irreversible for agricultural purposes and
thus has forced the people from agrarian sectors to hunt for other means of livelihood in their
displaced localities. When they migrate to the cities, they have to shift from one slum to the other
quite often as industrial laborers and rickshaw pullers. In Nepal the decade-old conflict between
the Government and the Maoists has displaced nearly 70,000 people. The ongoing political crisis
has hampered the peace settlement and durable solution for displacement people.4
(Myanmar) there are around 503,000 due to the internal conflict in Myanmar and the government
repression of the ethnic minorities. Afghanistan has 132,000 - 200,000 IDPs, mostly in the
Initially Mr. Kumar (42) had the least suspicion on the Sterlite Company as a hazardous unit. But he has the
following to share with us: “We are told to go to a clinic near the plant, where a doctor provides free consultation
and medicine to show that the company really cares for us. But it is a move to fool us because almost all household
have syrups and large strips of tablets, which have become part of staple diet because at least four out of five
persons suffer, form ‘a lung disorder’. The industry cheated us; they claim to provide employment to over 3,000
people, none out of them are form this region but north Indian migrants. Many people in the village had damaged
the enamel of their teeth after using the ground water in their region. We have lost our land and livelihood.”
UNHCR Document E/CN.4/1998/53/Add.2, dated 11 February 1998.
Cf. Calcutta Research Group, Voices of the Internally Displaced in South Asia- A Report, Kolkata, 2006
After the Tsunami on 26 December 2004, the number of IDPs
south and west parts of the country, due to fighting between NATO and Taliban-allied fighters.
Indonesia has 200,000 - 350,000 IDPs due to fighting between the government and secessionist
rebel movements. Pakistan has more than 400,000 IDPs at the end of 2008 due to ongoing
conflicts in three regions of Pakistan. The Philippines have about 300,000 IDPs due to fighting
between the government and communist and Islamic rebels.”5
1.2 Categories of Internal Displacement in India
1.2.1 Due to Political Conflicts & Secessionist Movements
Since independence, North-East India has witnessed two major armed conflicts –
the Naga Movement primarily led by the National Socialist Council of Nagaland, and the
Assam Movement by the All Assam Students’ Union and now largely by the extremist United
Liberation Front of Assam. The violent and retaliatory responses from the Government and other
forces opposed to the secessionists continue to generate a steady flow of displaced people.
The ‘war’ between State and the militants in Kashmir and the the killing of Kashmiri Pandits by
fundamentalist secessionist groups create the widespread anarchy leading to political instability
and the continuous violation of fundamental human rights and large scale displacement.6
1.2.2 Due to Naxalite Movements
In central India, displacement is on the increase due to clashes between Maoist insurgents
(commonly referred to as Naxalites) and Indian security forces and government-supported
militias. Such clashes proliferate with alarming intensity during the past few years, especially
in the states like Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, West Bengal, Bihar, Jharkhand, Orissa,
and Andhra Pradesh. The conflict has brought a wave of killings, human rights abuses and
widespread violations against women in the affected areas.
“Discrimination against the tribal population (the Adivasis), displacement by large development
projects and government failure to ensure food security have been the main reasons for the
rapid spread of the Naxalite movement, according to an independent study released in June
The Dantewada district in south Chhattisgarh is the hardest hit by displacement, more
than 45,000 civilians – the majority from Salwa Judum-friendly villages. “One source says that
100,000 people have been displaced altogether.”8
1.2.3 Due to Development Projects
More than 21 million people are internally displaced due to Development projects in India.
Although the tribals makes up only 8% of the total population, more than 50% of the Tribals
5 "Global Statistics". IDMC. http://www.internal-dsplacement.org/8025708F004CE90B/(httpPages)/
22FB1D4E2B196DAA802570BB005E787C?OpenDocument&count=1000.
An estimated 250,000 from among the Kashmiri Pandits are said to have migrated to Jammu and Delhi.
SAAG, 13 June, 2009.
are displaced in the name of developmental projects.9
1894 Land Acquisition Act to displace indigenous peoples from their lands without sufficient
The first dam on the Narmada River, the Bargi Dam which was completed in 1990, reportedly
displaced 114.000 people from 162 villages and today irrigates only 5% of the land claimed to
benefit. Most of the evicted got no compensation for lost land and livelihood. The construction
of the Sardar Sarovar Reservoir has been the most contested so far.11
1.2.4 Due to Natural Disasters
Floods and other natural disasters also displace millions every year. The Indian Ocean tsunami,
which hit southern India in December 2004, devastated the Andaman and Nicobar Islands
and a 2,260-km stretch of the mainland coastline in Andhra Pradesh, Kerala, Tamil Nadu and
Pondicherry. An estimated 2.7 million people were affected by the disaster and hundreds of
thousands were displaced .Indian-controlled Kashmir was also badly affected by the South Asian
earthquake in October 2005, which rendered thousands of people homeless.
1.2.5 Due to Land Grabbing
In the name of achieving rapid economic growth, India has invested in industrial projects, dams,
roads, mines, power plants and new cities which have been made possible only through massive
acquisition of land and subsequent displacement of people.12
and illegally pollute and irretrievably poison our natural resources.13
“The government continues to use the
The major problem in the establishment of the SEZs is the land acquisition by the government
for the private developer. The land acquisition is being made under the Land Acquisition Act
of 1894. The SEZ Act 2005 marks the acquisition of land by the state for “public purpose” and
the transfer of the ownership of this land to private developers. The phenomenon of neo-liberal
According to Human Rights Watch, Indigenous peoples, known as Scheduled Tribes or Adivasis, suffer from high
rates of displacement. They make up 8 percent of the total population but constitute 55 percent of displaced people.
Between 1947 and 2010, it could be well projected that the number of displaced people who have been denied
rehabilitation could be as high as 60-70 million people.
HRW, January 2006.
The official estimation in 1979 of the number of families to be displaced by the Sardar Sarovar Reservoir was
about 6,000 but in 2000 about 42,000 families (about 200,000 people). However, this figure is strongly contested by
According to the Indian Social Institute, the 21.3 million development-induced IDPs include those displaced
by dams (16.4 million), mines (2.55 million), industrial development (1.25 million) and wild life sanctuaries and
national parks (0.6 million).
Cf. Samarenra dass, Out of this Earth, has the following to tell us: “each ton of Aluminim is produced with 12000
kwh electricity and smelting the same one ton requires 13500 kwh electricity emitting 13 ton of carbon dioxide and
other green house gases. To produce one ton of Aluminium, 1300 ton of water is consumed. This water is stolen
from the people, who are deprived of water, life and livelihood. Kalahandi district is one off the worst hid districts
in the country in terms of hunger and starvation death” as quoted in Vandana Shiva , A Life-giving Hill , Deccan
September 2010.
growth in the “competitive” “free market” enclaves of SEZs in India that threaten to dispossess
and displace thousands of people of their livelihoods, cultures and lands, in the exercise of
“public purpose” handing their land over to private corporations for economic growth and
development that too in the name of “greater common good of all” .
2.0 Kill-life Developmentalism
“There are 186 villages in Sriperumputhur belt. But there are 488 companies are located
in that area itself”14
“The evil consequences of mining and establishment of industries everywhere in large numbers,
especially it the agricultural and forest land deprives them of their means of livelihood and
eventually forces them for out-migration and taking up other non-agricultural occupations for
which majority of farmers, tribals and rural people are not trained or qualified.”15
their only means of livelihood and bring most backward they cannot adapt to other occupations,
particularly outside their environment.
Hence here is a paradox created in the philosophy of development. The vision of development
creates impoverishment and then the state proceeds with the poverty-alleviation programmes
like NREYA and of late, National Rural livelihood mission NRLM. It is like “First excite the
devil and then practice exorcism”. Is it not a ‘National Shame’? As against the tall claims of the
growth rates the alarming rate of number of the poor and the immigrants keeps on increasing.
3.0 Struggles of IDPs
3.1 Working condition
The migrant labour is employed in construction of buildings bridges roads etc., as well as in
basket weaving, leather, domestic work and sanitary work. They are migrants from Andhra
Pradesh, Orissa, Bihar, Jharkhand, West Bengal, Karnataka and Madhya Pradesh. From
Andhra Pradesh, Orissa, they migrate as families. They are subjected to economic and physical
exploitation of the employers, and no labour laws are adhered to.
They are recruited through middle men by contractors with advances and paid very low wages.
They either live on sites or live outside in huts put up by contractors, with no amenities. The
children have no child care or educational facilities hence do sibling care or guard the home and
accompany the parents to work. They are housed in huts of size 6’x10’ with no basic amenities
such as drinking water, toilet or street lights. Since they take advances from employers, the latter
deduct the interest from the wages. Thus they receive paltry wages. Provided with no ration card
nor voter card or basic amenities, they belong to other states and speak different languages.
There have been 31 fatal accidents involving migrant construction labourers in Kancheepuram
district as per the police response to a query under RTI. Also, they are subjected to atrocities and
many kinds of harassments including physical beating verbal abuse and sexual harassment. The
women workers when they are alone in at night while men are at night work, they are subjected
to sexual assaults. Sexual harassment in terms of teasing, double meaning talk, physical abuse,
are regular occurrences.
. The establishment of industries has sapped the vitals of the people at large.
Mahim Pratap Singh, “Reluctant Migrants”, Frontline, September 10, 2010, p 98.
Since the migrant labourers have difficulty in expression in the local language and are illiterate
or have low level of literacy, they are unable to question or oppose the employers. The migrant
women labourers feel scared and shy to express the harassment and difficulties. The workplaces
cannot be accessed by trade union or organizations nor do the officials from Labour or Health
Education or Revenue Department visit these work sites.
3.2 Conditions of Women and Children:
The migrant women labourers go to their native places for delivery of the first child
while the second and other pregnancies happen even in the labour camp. There is no prenatal or
postnatal check up or disease prevention steps such as TT, Triple antigen etc carried out since
there’s no census of pregnant women taken in the sites by VHNs. Very often the babies are born
without any medical help on the construction sites. Labour camp child birth and lack of
immunization indicate total lack of basic health care. These births are not accounted for and the
care of VHNs and PHCs are not available to these women and children.
Since the living areas of Migrant Labourers, whether on sites or outside, have no toilet
facilities, open defecation takes place and the waste water and household garbage stagnate in the
surrounding areas. So they suffer from diarrhea and dysentery and especially children’s health is
affected due to unhygienic environment. The local bodies do not take any step to clean the areas
or spread disinfectants.
The small children upto 5 years are neither looked after by Anganwadis nor by the
contractors hence the children roam around on the site and along with older children. Nutrition
immunization and pre school education are denied to these children. In every big construction
site 25-60 children can be seen roaming on sites. Due to lack of nutrition, they look thin and
emaciated, anemic and with skin disorders, cold cough and respiratory problems and jaundice.
These children are not admitted to Anganwadis. The women workers cannot take care or
breast feed the children since they go to work for long hours hence older children look after the
young ones. As per the provision of Contract Labour Act 1970 and Building and other
Construction Workers (Regulation of employment and conditions of Service) Act 1996, if more
than 50 women workers are employed, crèche should be run by the contractor otherwise by the
principal employer and cost deducted from the contractor’s bill, but this is not implemented.
Since the older children look after the young ones, their education is also affected Also,
the children playing in hazardous environment in sand and steel, in puddles and un even surface
can lead to accidents and ill health.
The migrant labourers and the children are affected by respiratory disorders due to
cement dust, brick and sand dust. The children also eat mud and are affected in various ways on
these sites. But there’s no medical care or treatment or even medical camps on the sites.
4.0 Humanizing the IDPs
In the recent past the growing trends of internal displacement are not predominantly caused by
natural calamities but the so-called Developmental projects. The IDPs legitimately seek for aid
and relief on the one hand and rehabilitation on the other as the rights due for the citizens of
any state. They need own lands for livelihood and legitimacy. Having pleaded enough with no
results, they experience the frustration leading them to mild protests to vehement confrontation
with the state and other powers that be. These displacements are none other than gross violation
of human rights. How on earth the people of good will could put an end to the atrocities of
forcible internal displacement and protect the human rights of the IDPs? In dialogue with some
of the life-giving sources, let us look into the possibilities of humanizing the IDPs.
4.1 Searching for the Lost Sheep
In the parable of the Lost Sheep (Lk 15: 3-6), who and what made the sheep go astray? All
animals possess the instinct to protect their lives. they are endowed with the natural urge to hunt
for food and water, and to protect the food from intruders and guard them from their own use.
They are always under the pressure that comes from other members of their own sheep and the
competition that comes from animals of other species. As they enter the grazing field the strong
and bigger animals use their physical strength to prevent the weaker animals. In this struggle
the weaker ones get pushed away. Those pushed-away are forced by the pressure of hunger and
thirst and run to find food and water. It is the stronger animals who pushed aside the weaker ones
in order to make the green pasture exclusively for them. Thus the lost sheep is made to get lost.
In today’s context the lost sheep are the IDP’s. Many coastal regions and tribal regions in India
are being given for the mining to many Multinational corporations of the industrial countries.
This eventually affects millions and millions of the fisher-folk and they will be pushed out of
their livelihood. The MNCs conquest of our shores, which many of our state governments enable
the industrialized nations to accomplish in today’s India intensifies the poverty of our people
and drastically enlarge the number of IDP’s, who are pushed to the margins of human existence.
When Vedanta, POSCO, green field airport and dams will be completed, millions of the poverty-
ridden people and tribals in North India will lose their land and houses. They will be for4ced to
find place in the slums of Mumbai, Kolkatta, Chennai and Delhi and other metropolitan cities of
India are full of the IDP’s (lost Sheep) the victims of India’s development. One of the founding
principles of the Indian constitution is that the state has the responsibility to create the economic
structures that would provide opportunities for the development of the disadvantaged sections of
the society, but under the regime of MNC’s our country is being forced to withdraw form giving
any assistance to economically weaker sections of the people. It affects the social security of
large number of people and they are pushed away from their own soil. And so they become the
part of the lost sheep.
The parable of the lost sheep is a powerful gospel message that challenges the Indian
Government and MNC’s. The IDP’s (lost ones), who lost their land; house and livelihood are
loved by God and cared by God. The challenge for the Church in India today is to be with Christ
–Good Shepherd who seeks the lost sheep (IDP’s). In terms of the resources acquisition and
wealth accumulation, the human economic history is not much different from the parable of the
lost sheep. Before sixteenth century-colonization, the economic life of the world was different
from that of the world lived in tribal like situations in the rural areas and in small towns. Most
of the population lived a simple life in self-sufficient village. Most of the people were poor, but
they were not destitute. Poverty and destitution are very different from one another. Destitution
is a situation marked by the total inadequacy in shelter, clothing and food. Destitution is a
modern phenomenon, which first appeared in the cities. Now, it has reached the villages.
4.2 Enough with Atrocities against Dignity of Migrants
The book of Genesis and Psalms bring out insight that the human community has to
relate to the rest of the human beings in responsible and harmonious manner(Gen 1 :28-
30). But has happened in Orrisa, Gujarat, Kashmir , and other parts of India is entirely
opposite to what humans are made for. Even animals are not aggressive to their kind but the
happening in different parts of India and Asia tell is that no animal could ever be so cruel as
humans 'artfully' cruel e.g., cutting a woman, seven months pregnant in to pieces, and burning
a twenty year old girl alive burning 20 year old boy alive. The basic needs of the human
being include rights to life, food clothing , shelter, medical care, social security , freedom of
conscience, safe working conditions and private property. The violence in the different parts of
the world has taken away all the basic necessities that affirm their dignity and well being. When
we violate the rights of our own neighbours we sin against God ( Is 1:23-25) because rejection of
the ones own neighbour is a rejection of God himself. (Ezek 18: 3-12). In the New Testament the
law of God and the love of neighbour are intrinsically related (Mat 22:34-40). Thus the violence
in Asia has violated God's design of ensuring peace and well being of humanity and in particular
it has violated the dignity, shattered the harmony and destroyed the well-being of the people.
The victims of war and riot are forced to live in social exclusion when discrimination is done
in the name of religion, the victims need to be told that the God who has called then to be
Christians is a God who saves them in and through the suffering and death of his own son.
He is a God who works with us and leads us to freedom in and through our experiences of
abandonment and brokenness and apart from it . Thus the victims are to be told that "God is
our refuge, and therefore we will not fear" ( Ps 46:1-2) .God comforts the fear-gripped victims
saying "Do not be afraid, I am your shield" (Gen 15:1)
4.3 Definite Divine Option for Sojourners
The ideal of the pre-monarchic period was that Yahweh was the true owner of the land and
all the Israelites were his tenants. The monopoly of land in the hands of a few is contrary to
the will of Yahweh. "During the time of the divided monarchy ownership of the land passed
move and move into the hands of the wealthy elite. The new land owners brought further
pressure on the peasants by converting the small grain lands of the hill country to vineyards
and olive groves. This provided marketable commodities for a lucrative commerce."16
new era of globalization has made all the natural resources like water, mineral, and forest as
commodity to make huge of money.
In Amos, the condemnation of Judah (Amos 2:4-5) is due to their infidelity and idolatry. It
is with Israel that the Lord starts enumerating the various misdeeds (Amos2:6-8). The sins
mentioned are the poor along the lines of counting the impoverished as less humans and non-
humans. The weak are counted by the powers that be as of the low birth to be discriminated
against. Yahweh will intervene on behalf of the people who are deprived of their rights. Yahweh
is going to punish them for their ungrateful behaviour. Yahweh has been lavishing up on them.
Amos, in his further denunciation of the people of Israel, singles out another sin, they store is
in their Castles what they have extorted and robbed. When Yahweh visits Israel the punishment
predicted is luxury houses like the winter houses and the summer houses will be struck down. In
Jacob Parappally, Antony Kalliath, Theology of Economics in the Globalised World, Asian Trading Corporation,
Bangalore, 2010, p. 53.
the first woe uttered against Israel (Amos 5:5-17), he mentions the fact that the poor were taxed
unjustly. The rich people built mansions of carved stones; planted beautiful vineyards, indulged
in bribery denying justice to the poor. The rich and the powerful tampered with judiciary (Amos
In today’s context the poor, tribals and dalits are denied justice because the rich politicians and
the MNCs are law creators enjoying all privileges ‘lying upon beds of ivory, eating the best
food, enjoying music’ (Amos 6:4) . The Tribals are cheated during land transaction by giving
very low amount of money and false promises and eventually driven out as migranst. But God
has definitely opted for the Tribals and impoverished migrants (Isa 51 :19). The oppressed shall
speedily be released, they shall not die and go down to the pit nor shall they lack bread.
4.4 Gandhian Vision of Economic Development
Today, we see that the society has witnessed far-reaching changes in the political, social
and economic life of the people in the world. Modernization, mechanization, industrialization,
westernization and urbanization have produced massive changes in the society. This change had
been accelerated unimaginatively beyond the expectation of humankind. This change has
positive as well as a negative impact on society. However, the change has brought many
comforts and has increased the standard of living of the people. But in reality, when the growth
rate of change increased the human suffering has also increased proportionately and thereby
society witness as conflict among people. The increasing gap between groups will continue to
harm the harmonious living condition of the society. The existing development path not only
disturbed the harmony of society but also affected the relationship between humanity and nature.
In the name of quick development, natural resources have been exploited to the level of causing
imbalance in the order of the cosmos. There is also an exploitative development of culture for
the advantage of a few individuals, societies, and countries at the cost of many individuals,
societies and countries. Now, an attempt is being made to identify an appropriate path to achieve
equity in growth and development. Humanity has to utilize natural recourses at an optimum
level without causing any damage to the environment provide with ample opportunities for the
employment for the people, and take into account the cultural social and economic welfare of
Gandhian model of development addresses the problems of modern development that we
face today in the world. Sarvodaya model of development is not confined to any particular
society. It is applicable to all the societies of the world. It is unfortunate that the Gandhian model
of development is not perceived properly.17
consideration all the activities of humanity. He sees labour as a constant interaction between
humanity and the nature for the betterment of the people. This is a holistic approach that never
excludes any aspect of the development process. It focuses on the sustainable development and
preservation of the ecosystem. His approach is completely oriented towards perfecting the
individuals rather than the system. Moreover, he never relied on organizations and institutions
created above man for regulating humanity.18
“I do want growth and I do want self-determination. I do want freedom, but I want all these for the soul. I doubt if
the steel age is an advance upon the flint age. I am indifferent. It is the evolution of the soul to which the intellect
and all our faculties have to be devoted. A plea for the spinning wheel is a plea for recognizing the dignity of
labour.” M.K. Gandhi, Young India, October 13, 1921.
M.K. Gandhi, Harijan, p. 76.
This approach is always inclusive and it takes into
Gandhi’s concept of economic development
envisaged optimum utilization of recourses for the need of humanity.
The conception of economic development envisioned by Gandhi involves a process of
natural social evolution by which a human being is perfecting himself internally and externally,
moving in a continuum of activities in making use of the institutions and nature. Human beings
and their institution can make use of nature for satisfying their needs but if it is for greed; it
causes injury to nature.
4.5 Development is Sarvodaya
Any economic developmental activity should take into account the human needs namely,
the somatic needs- those needs that arise out of human basic survival requirements- food,
clothing, shelter, adequate transport facilities and medical care. Poietic needs are those which
are related to actualizing one’s potentialities and capabilities in determining what is to be
produced and how is to produced and fulfilling ones heart desires, Ecotic needs are that which is
essential for one’s health life in the environment. Noetic needs are that which is important to
decided and discern with proper knowledge and wisdom.
Sarvodaya focuses on human beings as the center of social and economic function of
production and distribution in the village societal context. His views of Society are as follows: 19
• All able-bodied people should be employed in production of goods and services needed
for the community. The life of the individual must center around a productive activity
• The Community as a whole should be engaged in not only economic production but also
in matters of law, order, and justice.
• Authority and its dispensation arise from within the local community and not from a
national and state capital.
• The Management of resources vital to community life, like water, forests, and other
natural resources, must be in the hands of the local community and not within distant,
impersonal, and authoritarian government departments, which only become sources of
corruption and exploitation.
• Production should essentially be on a small scale and need based.
• Education is oriented to productive function of the community, which will then avoid
unemployment of the educated, which now number more than 30 million with the
consequence proneness of youth to violence.
• Production is essentially for the domestic market.
• People learn to live in harmony with nature, promoting and protecting the local
environment and encouraging production of goods and services , meeting the needs of the
community and prevention of waste of resources.
Rajaratanam., Development and Environmental Economic : The Reference of Gandhi., p. 45.
• Local alternative energy should be used. As production and distribution is basically
related to a smaller region, the demands for energy must be met by locally available
• Capital skills and machinery, need to support the decentralized production and
distribution of goods and services.
• Science and technologies must be adapted to devise tools of production and distribution
in such a way that the environment is not tampered with.
The High Court order to shut down the Sterlite plant in Tuticorin has come up in time. The local
people suffered lung disorder, eye irritation and other pollution effects like the effluent affecting
the fish availability in the coastal area near the industry directly intervening with their health and
livelihood. They had lost their lands for a cheaper price than what they were promised earlier.
They were promised jobs but were not given as they had north Indian labourers working for a
cheaper labour. Thanks to the efforts of Anti Sterlite Movement headed by B.M.Tamil Manthan
that they strived to get justice before things could go worse.
“Tata Steel’s ambitious titanium dioxide project that involved an investment of Rs.1200 core
and acquisition of nearly 12,000 acres of land in Sattankulam-Kuttam stretch in Tuticorin and
Tirunelveli belt was shelved following stiff opposition from locals and political parties . The
Nanguneri special economic zone (SEZ)located around 60 km from Tuticorin airport in the
neighboring Tirunelveli district too failed to take off and government officials say it is in the
process of being revived only now.”20
“Navdhanyo Trust organized the independent people’s tribunal on land acquisition, resource grab
and operation green Hunt in New Delhi from 9th
state was violating the constitution and law. This led to public hearing in Jharkand on 7th
of May 2010.”21
granted to Vedanta. It is a combination of many forces that put pressure on the government to
stop the mining in Niyamgiri. “Niyamgiri is a victory for the Earth Democracy” both because
it has protected the Earth and because it grew as a democratic process from the ground up.
Niyamgiri was test for democracy’s ability to stop corporate misrule and terror. It was a test
of humanity’s ability to respect the rights of Mother Earth. “We have passed the Niyamgiri.
It is now necessary to extend this victory to every place where land, water, Tribals, Dalits,
women and Mother Earth are threatened by MNC’s and resource grabbing corporations”22
success stories tell that the dawn for the IDPs is not far away. “I will restore the fortunes of my
people Israel, and they shall rebuild the ruined cities and inhabit them; they shall plant vineyards
and drink their wine, and they shall make their gardens and eat their fruit. I will plant them up on
their land, and they shall never again be plucked up out the land that I have given them.” (Amos
9:14 -15). Let this divine promise be fulfilled in our own life-time!
4.7 Eco-friendly Development
Mega Project run into Problems in Tuticorin, TheTimes of India, Chennai, Thursday , September 30, 2010 p 8.
Deccan Chronicle 8th
Vandana Shiva , A Life-giving Hill , Deccan Chronicle 8th
to 11th
of April 2010 to show that the corporate
This led the government withdraw the conditional clearance that had been
September 2010
September 2010.
Economic activities should be of eco-friendly and enhance living condition of the people.
Economic development should not be at the cost of the nature. Nature is the mother who
sustains the all beings of the universe. It is an imperative to safeguard the perennial fountains
of life sources of nature. In any case, the mother earth should not be exploited to meet our
greedy needs. To live in harmony and sustainability, nature has to be the partner in human
life. Human and nature should be in symbiotic association and complementary to each other.
Human being and nature both are inseparable union like body and soul. The development of the
people indispensably depends on the nature-the environment. As long as nature is in enhanced
healthy condition, it enhances the life of the people. For our fore fathers nature was also the self-
revelation of the divine.
5.0 Intervention on Behalf of IDPs
• Panchayat Extension to the scheduled areas (PESA) Act ‘ should be made wide known to
the people ( gives decision making power)
• demand the government to re-endirse the fundamental right to property”1947 right to
property was recognized under Article 19(f) of our constitution”
• India has no national IDP policy targeting Conflict Induced IDPs and the responsibility
for IDPs assistance and protection is frequently delegated to the state governments so we
must demand national policy for IDPs.
• Creation a strategic approach to providing information about the mega projects and its
adverse effects.
• Education about public hearing and make the people to attend without fail.
• Making the people to have clear understanding about the public hearing
• Ensuring the decisions taken are based on evidence as per the legal standards.
• Every person (or ) group that wishes to speak has that opportunity.
• Joining hands with the environmental activities and support for the sustainable
development and environmental policies.
• Promotion of the social institutions to play its role in bringing about a peaceful world
community.
• Celebration of the biodiversity as against the tendencies of homogenization of the flora
• Guidance on how through a range of different activities to prevent and respond to the
protection risk faced by the IDPs.
• Facilitating the IDPs to return to the place of origin-if possible or at least
final resettlement (a different locality) is our goal and wish for the IDPs.
• Land which couldprovide livelihood and legitimation will bring forth humanized way of
solving the IDP crisis.
• Shifting of the focus from profit-oriented luxury to production oriented Economy. The
struggle for survival and the manual work and ethos of labour of the majority have to get
importance than the recreational activities of the minority elite.
• People centered participatory process of development has to replace the accumulation of
money in the name of public good and rational security.
• The culture of egalitarianism as the fundamental nature of the humanist (option for the
least) has to come instead of culture of competition , rat race , blood shed , violence as
the order of the day( might is right).
Bibliography
Calcutta Research Group, A report by , Voices of the internally displaced in South Asia, ,
Mahanirban Calcutta Research Group, Kolkata 2006
Gandhi, M.K, Young India, October13, 1921
Gandhi, M.K. Harijan., p. 76
Jeyaseelan, L, Towards A Counter –Culture- Sebastian Kappen’s Contribution, ISPCK, Delhi, 1999
Legarand, Lucien, The Bible on culture- Belonging and Dissenting?, Faith and Culture Series,
Theological Publications in India, Bangalore, 2001
Lewelyn, Robert, Thirsting for God, ST PAULS, Bandrra, Mumbai, 2001
Menezes , Rui De, The cultural Context of the Old Testament, Theological Publication in India, Bangalore, 2005
Prakashan, Prabhat ( Gyanoday), The Recent Attacks on Christians in Orrisa- A Theological Response, Regional
Theology Centere, Khaspur, Patna, 2009
Rajaratanam., Development and Environmental Economic : The Reference of Gandh.
Thomas, George , Voices for our Times- biblical –Theological Discourses on the Contemporary
Challenges, Christava Sahitya Samithi, Tiruvalla, 2003
Singh, Ramjee, The Relevance of Gandhian Thought, Classical Publishing Company, New Delhi, 1982.
Sivarajah , Padmini, We know of PollutionTthreat Since 1995, The times of India, Chennai, September 30, 2010.
UNHCR document E/CN.4/1998/53/Add.2, dated 11 February 1998
Shiva, Vandana , A Life-giving Hill , Deccan Chronicle 8th
www.internal-displacement.org
september 2010
September 2010
*** *** ***
--- Richard Lourdu Dass, SJ & Leo Anand, SJ, Arul Kadal Theology Centre, Chennai ---
1.0 Internally Displaced People
In spite of the citizenship, a large number of the people are driven away from their homes as
displaced refugees within their own countries for various reasons. Such refugees are termed as
the Internally Displaced People (IDP). Unlike the nomads who voluntarily migrate, the IDPs are
forcibly thrown out of their own roots.1
The IDPs, in broad terms, could be defined as follows:2
persons or groups of persons who have been forced or obliged to flee or to leave their
homes or places of habitual residence, in particular as a result of or in order to avoid the
effects of armed conflict, situations of generalized violence, violations of human rights or
natural or human-made disasters, and who have not crossed an internationally recognized
State border.
1.1 South Asian Scenario
From 1950 onwards there were riots against the Tamils in Sri Lanka. By 1996 the number
of IDPs was around 800,000.3
shot up again. And further, the so-called war against the LTTE has targeted the Tamils to be
ruthlessly massacred in large numbers. And the surviving ones are kept in captivity under threat
to life in temporary tin sheets behind barbed wires in subhuman conditions.
In Bangladesh shrimp cultivation has left the land irreversible for agricultural purposes and
thus has forced the people from agrarian sectors to hunt for other means of livelihood in their
displaced localities. When they migrate to the cities, they have to shift from one slum to the other
quite often as industrial laborers and rickshaw pullers. In Nepal the decade-old conflict between
the Government and the Maoists has displaced nearly 70,000 people. The ongoing political crisis
has hampered the peace settlement and durable solution for displacement people.4
(Myanmar) there are around 503,000 due to the internal conflict in Myanmar and the government
repression of the ethnic minorities. Afghanistan has 132,000 - 200,000 IDPs, mostly in the
Initially Mr. Kumar (42) had the least suspicion on the Sterlite Company as a hazardous unit. But he has the
following to share with us: “We are told to go to a clinic near the plant, where a doctor provides free consultation
and medicine to show that the company really cares for us. But it is a move to fool us because almost all household
have syrups and large strips of tablets, which have become part of staple diet because at least four out of five
persons suffer, form ‘a lung disorder’. The industry cheated us; they claim to provide employment to over 3,000
people, none out of them are form this region but north Indian migrants. Many people in the village had damaged
the enamel of their teeth after using the ground water in their region. We have lost our land and livelihood.”
UNHCR Document E/CN.4/1998/53/Add.2, dated 11 February 1998.
Cf. Calcutta Research Group, Voices of the Internally Displaced in South Asia- A Report, Kolkata, 2006
After the Tsunami on 26 December 2004, the number of IDPs
south and west parts of the country, due to fighting between NATO and Taliban-allied fighters.
Indonesia has 200,000 - 350,000 IDPs due to fighting between the government and secessionist
rebel movements. Pakistan has more than 400,000 IDPs at the end of 2008 due to ongoing
conflicts in three regions of Pakistan. The Philippines have about 300,000 IDPs due to fighting
between the government and communist and Islamic rebels.”5
1.2 Categories of Internal Displacement in India
1.2.1 Due to Political Conflicts & Secessionist Movements
Since independence, North-East India has witnessed two major armed conflicts –
the Naga Movement primarily led by the National Socialist Council of Nagaland, and the
Assam Movement by the All Assam Students’ Union and now largely by the extremist United
Liberation Front of Assam. The violent and retaliatory responses from the Government and other
forces opposed to the secessionists continue to generate a steady flow of displaced people.
The ‘war’ between State and the militants in Kashmir and the the killing of Kashmiri Pandits by
fundamentalist secessionist groups create the widespread anarchy leading to political instability
and the continuous violation of fundamental human rights and large scale displacement.6
1.2.2 Due to Naxalite Movements
In central India, displacement is on the increase due to clashes between Maoist insurgents
(commonly referred to as Naxalites) and Indian security forces and government-supported
militias. Such clashes proliferate with alarming intensity during the past few years, especially
in the states like Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, West Bengal, Bihar, Jharkhand, Orissa,
and Andhra Pradesh. The conflict has brought a wave of killings, human rights abuses and
widespread violations against women in the affected areas.
“Discrimination against the tribal population (the Adivasis), displacement by large development
projects and government failure to ensure food security have been the main reasons for the
rapid spread of the Naxalite movement, according to an independent study released in June
The Dantewada district in south Chhattisgarh is the hardest hit by displacement, more
than 45,000 civilians – the majority from Salwa Judum-friendly villages. “One source says that
100,000 people have been displaced altogether.”8
1.2.3 Due to Development Projects
More than 21 million people are internally displaced due to Development projects in India.
Although the tribals makes up only 8% of the total population, more than 50% of the Tribals
5 "Global Statistics". IDMC. http://www.internal-dsplacement.org/8025708F004CE90B/(httpPages)/
22FB1D4E2B196DAA802570BB005E787C?OpenDocument&count=1000.
An estimated 250,000 from among the Kashmiri Pandits are said to have migrated to Jammu and Delhi.
SAAG, 13 June, 2009.
are displaced in the name of developmental projects.9
1894 Land Acquisition Act to displace indigenous peoples from their lands without sufficient
The first dam on the Narmada River, the Bargi Dam which was completed in 1990, reportedly
displaced 114.000 people from 162 villages and today irrigates only 5% of the land claimed to
benefit. Most of the evicted got no compensation for lost land and livelihood. The construction
of the Sardar Sarovar Reservoir has been the most contested so far.11
1.2.4 Due to Natural Disasters
Floods and other natural disasters also displace millions every year. The Indian Ocean tsunami,
which hit southern India in December 2004, devastated the Andaman and Nicobar Islands
and a 2,260-km stretch of the mainland coastline in Andhra Pradesh, Kerala, Tamil Nadu and
Pondicherry. An estimated 2.7 million people were affected by the disaster and hundreds of
thousands were displaced .Indian-controlled Kashmir was also badly affected by the South Asian
earthquake in October 2005, which rendered thousands of people homeless.
1.2.5 Due to Land Grabbing
In the name of achieving rapid economic growth, India has invested in industrial projects, dams,
roads, mines, power plants and new cities which have been made possible only through massive
acquisition of land and subsequent displacement of people.12
and illegally pollute and irretrievably poison our natural resources.13
“The government continues to use the
The major problem in the establishment of the SEZs is the land acquisition by the government
for the private developer. The land acquisition is being made under the Land Acquisition Act
of 1894. The SEZ Act 2005 marks the acquisition of land by the state for “public purpose” and
the transfer of the ownership of this land to private developers. The phenomenon of neo-liberal
According to Human Rights Watch, Indigenous peoples, known as Scheduled Tribes or Adivasis, suffer from high
rates of displacement. They make up 8 percent of the total population but constitute 55 percent of displaced people.
Between 1947 and 2010, it could be well projected that the number of displaced people who have been denied
rehabilitation could be as high as 60-70 million people.
HRW, January 2006.
The official estimation in 1979 of the number of families to be displaced by the Sardar Sarovar Reservoir was
about 6,000 but in 2000 about 42,000 families (about 200,000 people). However, this figure is strongly contested by
According to the Indian Social Institute, the 21.3 million development-induced IDPs include those displaced
by dams (16.4 million), mines (2.55 million), industrial development (1.25 million) and wild life sanctuaries and
national parks (0.6 million).
Cf. Samarenra dass, Out of this Earth, has the following to tell us: “each ton of Aluminim is produced with 12000
kwh electricity and smelting the same one ton requires 13500 kwh electricity emitting 13 ton of carbon dioxide and
other green house gases. To produce one ton of Aluminium, 1300 ton of water is consumed. This water is stolen
from the people, who are deprived of water, life and livelihood. Kalahandi district is one off the worst hid districts
in the country in terms of hunger and starvation death” as quoted in Vandana Shiva , A Life-giving Hill , Deccan
September 2010.
growth in the “competitive” “free market” enclaves of SEZs in India that threaten to dispossess
and displace thousands of people of their livelihoods, cultures and lands, in the exercise of
“public purpose” handing their land over to private corporations for economic growth and
development that too in the name of “greater common good of all” .
2.0 Kill-life Developmentalism
“There are 186 villages in Sriperumputhur belt. But there are 488 companies are located
in that area itself”14
“The evil consequences of mining and establishment of industries everywhere in large numbers,
especially it the agricultural and forest land deprives them of their means of livelihood and
eventually forces them for out-migration and taking up other non-agricultural occupations for
which majority of farmers, tribals and rural people are not trained or qualified.”15
their only means of livelihood and bring most backward they cannot adapt to other occupations,
particularly outside their environment.
Hence here is a paradox created in the philosophy of development. The vision of development
creates impoverishment and then the state proceeds with the poverty-alleviation programmes
like NREYA and of late, National Rural livelihood mission NRLM. It is like “First excite the
devil and then practice exorcism”. Is it not a ‘National Shame’? As against the tall claims of the
growth rates the alarming rate of number of the poor and the immigrants keeps on increasing.
3.0 Struggles of IDPs
3.1 Working condition
The migrant labour is employed in construction of buildings bridges roads etc., as well as in
basket weaving, leather, domestic work and sanitary work. They are migrants from Andhra
Pradesh, Orissa, Bihar, Jharkhand, West Bengal, Karnataka and Madhya Pradesh. From
Andhra Pradesh, Orissa, they migrate as families. They are subjected to economic and physical
exploitation of the employers, and no labour laws are adhered to.
They are recruited through middle men by contractors with advances and paid very low wages.
They either live on sites or live outside in huts put up by contractors, with no amenities. The
children have no child care or educational facilities hence do sibling care or guard the home and
accompany the parents to work. They are housed in huts of size 6’x10’ with no basic amenities
such as drinking water, toilet or street lights. Since they take advances from employers, the latter
deduct the interest from the wages. Thus they receive paltry wages. Provided with no ration card
nor voter card or basic amenities, they belong to other states and speak different languages.
There have been 31 fatal accidents involving migrant construction labourers in Kancheepuram
district as per the police response to a query under RTI. Also, they are subjected to atrocities and
many kinds of harassments including physical beating verbal abuse and sexual harassment. The
women workers when they are alone in at night while men are at night work, they are subjected
to sexual assaults. Sexual harassment in terms of teasing, double meaning talk, physical abuse,
are regular occurrences.
. The establishment of industries has sapped the vitals of the people at large.
Mahim Pratap Singh, “Reluctant Migrants”, Frontline, September 10, 2010, p 98.
Since the migrant labourers have difficulty in expression in the local language and are illiterate
or have low level of literacy, they are unable to question or oppose the employers. The migrant
women labourers feel scared and shy to express the harassment and difficulties. The workplaces
cannot be accessed by trade union or organizations nor do the officials from Labour or Health
Education or Revenue Department visit these work sites.
3.2 Conditions of Women and Children:
The migrant women labourers go to their native places for delivery of the first child
while the second and other pregnancies happen even in the labour camp. There is no prenatal or
postnatal check up or disease prevention steps such as TT, Triple antigen etc carried out since
there’s no census of pregnant women taken in the sites by VHNs. Very often the babies are born
without any medical help on the construction sites. Labour camp child birth and lack of
immunization indicate total lack of basic health care. These births are not accounted for and the
care of VHNs and PHCs are not available to these women and children.
Since the living areas of Migrant Labourers, whether on sites or outside, have no toilet
facilities, open defecation takes place and the waste water and household garbage stagnate in the
surrounding areas. So they suffer from diarrhea and dysentery and especially children’s health is
affected due to unhygienic environment. The local bodies do not take any step to clean the areas
or spread disinfectants.
The small children upto 5 years are neither looked after by Anganwadis nor by the
contractors hence the children roam around on the site and along with older children. Nutrition
immunization and pre school education are denied to these children. In every big construction
site 25-60 children can be seen roaming on sites. Due to lack of nutrition, they look thin and
emaciated, anemic and with skin disorders, cold cough and respiratory problems and jaundice.
These children are not admitted to Anganwadis. The women workers cannot take care or
breast feed the children since they go to work for long hours hence older children look after the
young ones. As per the provision of Contract Labour Act 1970 and Building and other
Construction Workers (Regulation of employment and conditions of Service) Act 1996, if more
than 50 women workers are employed, crèche should be run by the contractor otherwise by the
principal employer and cost deducted from the contractor’s bill, but this is not implemented.
Since the older children look after the young ones, their education is also affected Also,
the children playing in hazardous environment in sand and steel, in puddles and un even surface
can lead to accidents and ill health.
The migrant labourers and the children are affected by respiratory disorders due to
cement dust, brick and sand dust. The children also eat mud and are affected in various ways on
these sites. But there’s no medical care or treatment or even medical camps on the sites.
4.0 Humanizing the IDPs
In the recent past the growing trends of internal displacement are not predominantly caused by
natural calamities but the so-called Developmental projects. The IDPs legitimately seek for aid
and relief on the one hand and rehabilitation on the other as the rights due for the citizens of
any state. They need own lands for livelihood and legitimacy. Having pleaded enough with no
results, they experience the frustration leading them to mild protests to vehement confrontation
with the state and other powers that be. These displacements are none other than gross violation
of human rights. How on earth the people of good will could put an end to the atrocities of
forcible internal displacement and protect the human rights of the IDPs? In dialogue with some
of the life-giving sources, let us look into the possibilities of humanizing the IDPs.
4.1 Searching for the Lost Sheep
In the parable of the Lost Sheep (Lk 15: 3-6), who and what made the sheep go astray? All
animals possess the instinct to protect their lives. they are endowed with the natural urge to hunt
for food and water, and to protect the food from intruders and guard them from their own use.
They are always under the pressure that comes from other members of their own sheep and the
competition that comes from animals of other species. As they enter the grazing field the strong
and bigger animals use their physical strength to prevent the weaker animals. In this struggle
the weaker ones get pushed away. Those pushed-away are forced by the pressure of hunger and
thirst and run to find food and water. It is the stronger animals who pushed aside the weaker ones
in order to make the green pasture exclusively for them. Thus the lost sheep is made to get lost.
In today’s context the lost sheep are the IDP’s. Many coastal regions and tribal regions in India
are being given for the mining to many Multinational corporations of the industrial countries.
This eventually affects millions and millions of the fisher-folk and they will be pushed out of
their livelihood. The MNCs conquest of our shores, which many of our state governments enable
the industrialized nations to accomplish in today’s India intensifies the poverty of our people
and drastically enlarge the number of IDP’s, who are pushed to the margins of human existence.
When Vedanta, POSCO, green field airport and dams will be completed, millions of the poverty-
ridden people and tribals in North India will lose their land and houses. They will be for4ced to
find place in the slums of Mumbai, Kolkatta, Chennai and Delhi and other metropolitan cities of
India are full of the IDP’s (lost Sheep) the victims of India’s development. One of the founding
principles of the Indian constitution is that the state has the responsibility to create the economic
structures that would provide opportunities for the development of the disadvantaged sections of
the society, but under the regime of MNC’s our country is being forced to withdraw form giving
any assistance to economically weaker sections of the people. It affects the social security of
large number of people and they are pushed away from their own soil. And so they become the
part of the lost sheep.
The parable of the lost sheep is a powerful gospel message that challenges the Indian
Government and MNC’s. The IDP’s (lost ones), who lost their land; house and livelihood are
loved by God and cared by God. The challenge for the Church in India today is to be with Christ
–Good Shepherd who seeks the lost sheep (IDP’s). In terms of the resources acquisition and
wealth accumulation, the human economic history is not much different from the parable of the
lost sheep. Before sixteenth century-colonization, the economic life of the world was different
from that of the world lived in tribal like situations in the rural areas and in small towns. Most
of the population lived a simple life in self-sufficient village. Most of the people were poor, but
they were not destitute. Poverty and destitution are very different from one another. Destitution
is a situation marked by the total inadequacy in shelter, clothing and food. Destitution is a
modern phenomenon, which first appeared in the cities. Now, it has reached the villages.
4.2 Enough with Atrocities against Dignity of Migrants
The book of Genesis and Psalms bring out insight that the human community has to
relate to the rest of the human beings in responsible and harmonious manner(Gen 1 :28-
30). But has happened in Orrisa, Gujarat, Kashmir , and other parts of India is entirely
opposite to what humans are made for. Even animals are not aggressive to their kind but the
happening in different parts of India and Asia tell is that no animal could ever be so cruel as
humans 'artfully' cruel e.g., cutting a woman, seven months pregnant in to pieces, and burning
a twenty year old girl alive burning 20 year old boy alive. The basic needs of the human
being include rights to life, food clothing , shelter, medical care, social security , freedom of
conscience, safe working conditions and private property. The violence in the different parts of
the world has taken away all the basic necessities that affirm their dignity and well being. When
we violate the rights of our own neighbours we sin against God ( Is 1:23-25) because rejection of
the ones own neighbour is a rejection of God himself. (Ezek 18: 3-12). In the New Testament the
law of God and the love of neighbour are intrinsically related (Mat 22:34-40). Thus the violence
in Asia has violated God's design of ensuring peace and well being of humanity and in particular
it has violated the dignity, shattered the harmony and destroyed the well-being of the people.
The victims of war and riot are forced to live in social exclusion when discrimination is done
in the name of religion, the victims need to be told that the God who has called then to be
Christians is a God who saves them in and through the suffering and death of his own son.
He is a God who works with us and leads us to freedom in and through our experiences of
abandonment and brokenness and apart from it . Thus the victims are to be told that "God is
our refuge, and therefore we will not fear" ( Ps 46:1-2) .God comforts the fear-gripped victims
saying "Do not be afraid, I am your shield" (Gen 15:1)
4.3 Definite Divine Option for Sojourners
The ideal of the pre-monarchic period was that Yahweh was the true owner of the land and
all the Israelites were his tenants. The monopoly of land in the hands of a few is contrary to
the will of Yahweh. "During the time of the divided monarchy ownership of the land passed
move and move into the hands of the wealthy elite. The new land owners brought further
pressure on the peasants by converting the small grain lands of the hill country to vineyards
and olive groves. This provided marketable commodities for a lucrative commerce."16
new era of globalization has made all the natural resources like water, mineral, and forest as
commodity to make huge of money.
In Amos, the condemnation of Judah (Amos 2:4-5) is due to their infidelity and idolatry. It
is with Israel that the Lord starts enumerating the various misdeeds (Amos2:6-8). The sins
mentioned are the poor along the lines of counting the impoverished as less humans and non-
humans. The weak are counted by the powers that be as of the low birth to be discriminated
against. Yahweh will intervene on behalf of the people who are deprived of their rights. Yahweh
is going to punish them for their ungrateful behaviour. Yahweh has been lavishing up on them.
Amos, in his further denunciation of the people of Israel, singles out another sin, they store is
in their Castles what they have extorted and robbed. When Yahweh visits Israel the punishment
predicted is luxury houses like the winter houses and the summer houses will be struck down. In
Jacob Parappally, Antony Kalliath, Theology of Economics in the Globalised World, Asian Trading Corporation,
Bangalore, 2010, p. 53.
the first woe uttered against Israel (Amos 5:5-17), he mentions the fact that the poor were taxed
unjustly. The rich people built mansions of carved stones; planted beautiful vineyards, indulged
in bribery denying justice to the poor. The rich and the powerful tampered with judiciary (Amos
In today’s context the poor, tribals and dalits are denied justice because the rich politicians and
the MNCs are law creators enjoying all privileges ‘lying upon beds of ivory, eating the best
food, enjoying music’ (Amos 6:4) . The Tribals are cheated during land transaction by giving
very low amount of money and false promises and eventually driven out as migranst. But God
has definitely opted for the Tribals and impoverished migrants (Isa 51 :19). The oppressed shall
speedily be released, they shall not die and go down to the pit nor shall they lack bread.
4.4 Gandhian Vision of Economic Development
Today, we see that the society has witnessed far-reaching changes in the political, social
and economic life of the people in the world. Modernization, mechanization, industrialization,
westernization and urbanization have produced massive changes in the society. This change had
been accelerated unimaginatively beyond the expectation of humankind. This change has
positive as well as a negative impact on society. However, the change has brought many
comforts and has increased the standard of living of the people. But in reality, when the growth
rate of change increased the human suffering has also increased proportionately and thereby
society witness as conflict among people. The increasing gap between groups will continue to
harm the harmonious living condition of the society. The existing development path not only
disturbed the harmony of society but also affected the relationship between humanity and nature.
In the name of quick development, natural resources have been exploited to the level of causing
imbalance in the order of the cosmos. There is also an exploitative development of culture for
the advantage of a few individuals, societies, and countries at the cost of many individuals,
societies and countries. Now, an attempt is being made to identify an appropriate path to achieve
equity in growth and development. Humanity has to utilize natural recourses at an optimum
level without causing any damage to the environment provide with ample opportunities for the
employment for the people, and take into account the cultural social and economic welfare of
Gandhian model of development addresses the problems of modern development that we
face today in the world. Sarvodaya model of development is not confined to any particular
society. It is applicable to all the societies of the world. It is unfortunate that the Gandhian model
of development is not perceived properly.17
consideration all the activities of humanity. He sees labour as a constant interaction between
humanity and the nature for the betterment of the people. This is a holistic approach that never
excludes any aspect of the development process. It focuses on the sustainable development and
preservation of the ecosystem. His approach is completely oriented towards perfecting the
individuals rather than the system. Moreover, he never relied on organizations and institutions
created above man for regulating humanity.18
“I do want growth and I do want self-determination. I do want freedom, but I want all these for the soul. I doubt if
the steel age is an advance upon the flint age. I am indifferent. It is the evolution of the soul to which the intellect
and all our faculties have to be devoted. A plea for the spinning wheel is a plea for recognizing the dignity of
labour.” M.K. Gandhi, Young India, October 13, 1921.
M.K. Gandhi, Harijan, p. 76.
This approach is always inclusive and it takes into
Gandhi’s concept of economic development
envisaged optimum utilization of recourses for the need of humanity.
The conception of economic development envisioned by Gandhi involves a process of
natural social evolution by which a human being is perfecting himself internally and externally,
moving in a continuum of activities in making use of the institutions and nature. Human beings
and their institution can make use of nature for satisfying their needs but if it is for greed; it
causes injury to nature.
4.5 Development is Sarvodaya
Any economic developmental activity should take into account the human needs namely,
the somatic needs- those needs that arise out of human basic survival requirements- food,
clothing, shelter, adequate transport facilities and medical care. Poietic needs are those which
are related to actualizing one’s potentialities and capabilities in determining what is to be
produced and how is to produced and fulfilling ones heart desires, Ecotic needs are that which is
essential for one’s health life in the environment. Noetic needs are that which is important to
decided and discern with proper knowledge and wisdom.
Sarvodaya focuses on human beings as the center of social and economic function of
production and distribution in the village societal context. His views of Society are as follows: 19
• All able-bodied people should be employed in production of goods and services needed
for the community. The life of the individual must center around a productive activity
• The Community as a whole should be engaged in not only economic production but also
in matters of law, order, and justice.
• Authority and its dispensation arise from within the local community and not from a
national and state capital.
• The Management of resources vital to community life, like water, forests, and other
natural resources, must be in the hands of the local community and not within distant,
impersonal, and authoritarian government departments, which only become sources of
corruption and exploitation.
• Production should essentially be on a small scale and need based.
• Education is oriented to productive function of the community, which will then avoid
unemployment of the educated, which now number more than 30 million with the
consequence proneness of youth to violence.
• Production is essentially for the domestic market.
• People learn to live in harmony with nature, promoting and protecting the local
environment and encouraging production of goods and services , meeting the needs of the
community and prevention of waste of resources.
Rajaratanam., Development and Environmental Economic : The Reference of Gandhi., p. 45.
• Local alternative energy should be used. As production and distribution is basically
related to a smaller region, the demands for energy must be met by locally available
• Capital skills and machinery, need to support the decentralized production and
distribution of goods and services.
• Science and technologies must be adapted to devise tools of production and distribution
in such a way that the environment is not tampered with.
The High Court order to shut down the Sterlite plant in Tuticorin has come up in time. The local
people suffered lung disorder, eye irritation and other pollution effects like the effluent affecting
the fish availability in the coastal area near the industry directly intervening with their health and
livelihood. They had lost their lands for a cheaper price than what they were promised earlier.
They were promised jobs but were not given as they had north Indian labourers working for a
cheaper labour. Thanks to the efforts of Anti Sterlite Movement headed by B.M.Tamil Manthan
that they strived to get justice before things could go worse.
“Tata Steel’s ambitious titanium dioxide project that involved an investment of Rs.1200 core
and acquisition of nearly 12,000 acres of land in Sattankulam-Kuttam stretch in Tuticorin and
Tirunelveli belt was shelved following stiff opposition from locals and political parties . The
Nanguneri special economic zone (SEZ)located around 60 km from Tuticorin airport in the
neighboring Tirunelveli district too failed to take off and government officials say it is in the
process of being revived only now.”20
“Navdhanyo Trust organized the independent people’s tribunal on land acquisition, resource grab
and operation green Hunt in New Delhi from 9th
state was violating the constitution and law. This led to public hearing in Jharkand on 7th
of May 2010.”21
granted to Vedanta. It is a combination of many forces that put pressure on the government to
stop the mining in Niyamgiri. “Niyamgiri is a victory for the Earth Democracy” both because
it has protected the Earth and because it grew as a democratic process from the ground up.
Niyamgiri was test for democracy’s ability to stop corporate misrule and terror. It was a test
of humanity’s ability to respect the rights of Mother Earth. “We have passed the Niyamgiri.
It is now necessary to extend this victory to every place where land, water, Tribals, Dalits,
women and Mother Earth are threatened by MNC’s and resource grabbing corporations”22
success stories tell that the dawn for the IDPs is not far away. “I will restore the fortunes of my
people Israel, and they shall rebuild the ruined cities and inhabit them; they shall plant vineyards
and drink their wine, and they shall make their gardens and eat their fruit. I will plant them up on
their land, and they shall never again be plucked up out the land that I have given them.” (Amos
9:14 -15). Let this divine promise be fulfilled in our own life-time!
4.7 Eco-friendly Development
Mega Project run into Problems in Tuticorin, TheTimes of India, Chennai, Thursday , September 30, 2010 p 8.
Deccan Chronicle 8th
Vandana Shiva , A Life-giving Hill , Deccan Chronicle 8th
to 11th
of April 2010 to show that the corporate
This led the government withdraw the conditional clearance that had been
September 2010
September 2010.
Economic activities should be of eco-friendly and enhance living condition of the people.
Economic development should not be at the cost of the nature. Nature is the mother who
sustains the all beings of the universe. It is an imperative to safeguard the perennial fountains
of life sources of nature. In any case, the mother earth should not be exploited to meet our
greedy needs. To live in harmony and sustainability, nature has to be the partner in human
life. Human and nature should be in symbiotic association and complementary to each other.
Human being and nature both are inseparable union like body and soul. The development of the
people indispensably depends on the nature-the environment. As long as nature is in enhanced
healthy condition, it enhances the life of the people. For our fore fathers nature was also the self-
revelation of the divine.
5.0 Intervention on Behalf of IDPs
• Panchayat Extension to the scheduled areas (PESA) Act ‘ should be made wide known to
the people ( gives decision making power)
• demand the government to re-endirse the fundamental right to property”1947 right to
property was recognized under Article 19(f) of our constitution”
• India has no national IDP policy targeting Conflict Induced IDPs and the responsibility
for IDPs assistance and protection is frequently delegated to the state governments so we
must demand national policy for IDPs.
• Creation a strategic approach to providing information about the mega projects and its
adverse effects.
• Education about public hearing and make the people to attend without fail.
• Making the people to have clear understanding about the public hearing
• Ensuring the decisions taken are based on evidence as per the legal standards.
• Every person (or ) group that wishes to speak has that opportunity.
• Joining hands with the environmental activities and support for the sustainable
development and environmental policies.
• Promotion of the social institutions to play its role in bringing about a peaceful world
community.
• Celebration of the biodiversity as against the tendencies of homogenization of the flora
• Guidance on how through a range of different activities to prevent and respond to the
protection risk faced by the IDPs.
• Facilitating the IDPs to return to the place of origin-if possible or at least
final resettlement (a different locality) is our goal and wish for the IDPs.
• Land which couldprovide livelihood and legitimation will bring forth humanized way of
solving the IDP crisis.
• Shifting of the focus from profit-oriented luxury to production oriented Economy. The
struggle for survival and the manual work and ethos of labour of the majority have to get
importance than the recreational activities of the minority elite.
• People centered participatory process of development has to replace the accumulation of
money in the name of public good and rational security.
• The culture of egalitarianism as the fundamental nature of the humanist (option for the
least) has to come instead of culture of competition , rat race , blood shed , violence as
the order of the day( might is right).
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September 2010
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