Gendering the National Rehabilitation Policy of India

Abstract

Development-induced displacement and its impact on the social, cultural and economic lives of the affected people is a huge discourse in contemporary India. Dislocation due to displacement has an irreversible impact on the lives of those displaced. Review of the existing literature shows that impacts are more severe on the most vulnerable groups such as the landless, tribals, women and children. In resettlement planning and policies it becomes imperative to understand the differential impact on men and women as gender blind programmes and policies can unintentionally reinforce gender disparities that already exist in society. Also, inherent societal biases in planning and policies may preclude women from benefiting from opportunities provided through the projects. This calls for looking at such policies from a gender perspective and mainstreaming gender accordingly so that it benefits both men and women.

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