Development with a High Price Tag

 

Millions of people have also been forced to leave their villages and communities to make way for development projects such as dams, irrigation canals, roads or reservoirs. Whilst these projects may be essential to the long term economic development of a country or region, too often, the population movements are conducted without respect for fundamental human rights, leaving those affected without compensation for losses incurred, without access to livelihoods and with their lives severely disrupted. 

The World Bank estimates that forcible “development-induced displacement and resettlement” now affects 10 million people per year. According to the World Bank an estimated 33 million people have been displaced by development projects such as dams, urban development and irrigation canals in India alone.

 

Next: A Daily Fight for Survival