Displacement and Resettlement in Tribal and Non-tribal Dominated Dam Projects of Orissa: Who Reconstructs Livelihood and How?

This study examines (i) whether productive use of compensation money, participation, support and self-efficacy facilitate the rehabilitation of the displaced and (ii) whether self-efficacy mediate between the rehabilitation of the displaced and the productive use of compensation, participation and support. One hundred and seventy two displaced families from two tribal-dominated and 232 displaced families from two non-tribal dominated medium irrigation projects in Orissa (India) were interviewed for the study. Using the conceptual algorithm of (a) equal or increased income and (b) equal or improved housing conditions of a displaced family compared to predisplacement status, a family was considered to be rehabilitated. Of the total interviewees, 56.4 per cent families in tribal dominated and 36.2 per cent families in non-tribal dominated projects are found to be rehabilitated. Except for the productive use of compensation money, the rehabilitated oustees in tribal and non-tribal dominated projects have more participated in resettlement and rehabilitation activities, received more support and have high self-efficacy compared to non-rehabilitated oustees. Displaced persons with high self-efficacy have utilised the tangible support, informational support, the compensation money in more productive ways, and have participated in more rehabilitation activities to reconstruct their livelihood than the displaced persons having moderate and low self-efficacy. Hence, the enhancement of the self-efficacy of potential oustees prior to physical dislocation will enable them to be rehabilitated.