Resettlement and Rehabilitation in India: Issues, Methodologies, and Lessons Learned

Abstract

Resettlement and Rehabilitation (R&R) in India remains a critical development concern due to large-scale displacement induced by infrastructure expansion, mining, industrialisation, urbanisation, and conservation projects. Despite the enactment of the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013 (RFCTLARR Act), rehabilitation outcomes continue to exhibit persistent gaps in livelihood restoration, social integration, and long-term well-being. This study undertakes a structured review of recent literature (primarily 2015–2025, with emphasis on 2020–2025 publications) to synthesize major issues, methodological approaches, and lessons learned in R&R research in India. Using a qualitative thematic synthesis approach, the paper identifies key challenges including livelihood displacement, social disarticulation, governance deficits, gendered vulnerabilities, and inadequate post-resettlement support systems. The review also highlights methodological diversification in R&R studies, including the Sustainable Livelihood Framework (SLF), Impoverishment Risks and Reconstruction (IRR) model, mixed-method approaches, participatory rural appraisal (PRA), and longitudinal assessments. The findings indicate a gradual shift from compensation centric to rights-based and livelihood-centred rehabilitation approaches; however, implementation gaps persist due to weak institutional capacity, limited community participation, and absence of long-term monitoring frameworks. The study concludes by proposing an integrated R&R framework emphasizing livelihood restoration, participatory governance, and psychosocial rehabilitation, and identifies key research gaps for future empirical investigation in the Indian context.