Dr Md Afroz & Dr Md Tabrez Alam
“The poor are not against development, they are only against being excluded from its benefits.”
— Amartya Sen,
In mineral-rich Jharkhand, growth has frequently come with displacement. Bokaro, long the emblem of India’s economic aspirations with the Bokaro Steel Plant (BSL), is now a symbol of rising dissatisfaction, shattered promises, and displaced dignity.
The recent killing of Prem Mahto, a local activist from the Visthapit Apprentice Sangh, during a protest at BSL, has reignited public attention toward the plight of “visthapit” or displaced people. The protest, which began as a peaceful demand for promised jobs and rehabilitation, ended in bloodshed after a lathi-charge by CISF, leaving dozens injured and one dead. In a rare move, the administration arrested BSL’s Chief General Manager Hari Mohan Jha and announced ₹20 lakh compensation and a job for the victim’s family. But is this justice? or just another bandage on a deep wound?
A Displacement Crisis Ignored: According to government records, over 1.3 million people have been displaced in Jharkhand since Independence due to mining, industrial, and dam projects. Shockingly, less than 25% of them have been properly resettled or rehabilitated. This means that nearly a million people, mostly Adivasis, Dalits, and landless peasants, were pushed into poverty and insecurity in the name of “vikas”. Projects like BSL (established in 1964), Tenughat Dam, and multiple coal mining operations by Central Coalfields Limited (CCL) have led to massive land acquisition, often without fair compensation or consent (IndiaSpend, 23 Jan 2025, IDR-2014-17, Sinha et al. 2022). A 2018 Jharkhand Human Rights Movement (JHRM) report highlighted that over 70% of displaced families still live in makeshift settlements, lacking access to clean water, electricity, or sustainable livelihood (SBIPM, 2016).
The Politics of Development: Political parties in Jharkhand have routinely used the issue of displacement as an electoral tool. In 2019, both the BJP and the JMM-Congress-RJD alliance promised large-scale rehabilitation schemes for displaced people. Yet, post-election, those promises faded into administrative oblivion. The ruling Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM), traditionally a champion of tribal rights, has been accused of silent complicity as protests have grown. On the other side, the BJP has used the recent incident in Bokaro as a rallying cry, with state opposition leader Babulal Marandi demanding a judicial probe. But this too seems more about political mileage than genuine justice.
The Disappearing Activist Voice: This isn’t the first time an activist has died fighting for displaced communities. In 2011, Sister Valsa John, a nun and tribal rights advocate, was murdered in Pakur district for opposing coal mining (India Today, 19 Nov 2011). A decade later, the killing of Prem Mahto (ToI, 3 April 2025) shows that the space for peaceful protest continues to shrink, while justice for the marginalized remains delayed, diluted, or denied. Despite the constitutional guarantees (under Article 21- Right to Life) and Fifth Schedule protections for tribal lands, the displacement industry in Jharkhand operates with minimal transparency and accountability. The Rehabilitation and Resettlement (R&R) policies, both at the state and national level, are rarely implemented in letter or spirit.
The Way Forward: Jharkhand needs a proactive, equitable, and transparent Displacement Justice Policy, not just compensation to victims. It should include; first) An exhaustive census of displaced families since 1960. Second) An independent Displacement Commission to monitor R&R compliance. Third) Legal requirements for housing, employment, and education before land acquisition. Increased PESA and Forest Rights Act implementation gives communities decision-making ability. How we treat those who sacrifice everything for these ideals is the true measure of development, not steel production, coal mining, or GDP growth. If Visthapit lives are silenced, no amount of money can restore their dignity. As Jharkhand moves towards industrialisation, it must ask: at what cost, and to whom? Because a state that puts industries on broken homes is not developing–it is displacing its essence.