Internally Displaced People and Internal Conflict in India

Abstract

An internally displaced person (IDP) is someone who is forced to flee their home but who remains within their country's borders. They are often referred to as refugees, although they do not fall within the current legal definition of a refugee. At the end of 2006 there were about 24.5 million IDP in some 52 countries. The region with the largest IDP population is Africa with some 11.8 million in 21 countries. They are not given as much international attention as refugees, hence the national recognition and redress of their grievance becomes important. Another reason for individual states’ responsibility is pretty obvious: unlike refugees, IDPs remain under the legal protection of their country of habitual residence and hence should enjoy the same rights as the rest of the people. There are mainly three reasons for displacement i.e., conflict-induced, development-induced and natural disaster. In India displacement is caused mainly through the construction of dams and other projects undertaken for economic development. Another reason behind IDP is internal conflict of Jammu Kashmir, Northeastern state, Naxal problem, and thirdly natural disasters such as flood, earthquake are also a contributor.