The Need of a Proper Policy for IDPs in India

Internally Displaced Persons or IDPs are those who are forced to flee their homes due to certain unfavourable conditions and have to migrate to some other place inside the country. These conditions may be political, social, environmental, etc. They are one of the most vulnerable groups. They remain at high risks of physical abuse and are frequently deprived of basic human needs like food, shelter, health services, sanitation, etc. According to the UN, there were over 5 million people internally displaced in India in 2019 itself due to conflict, violence and natural disasters. And in 2020, the world was hit by the unprecedented Covid-19 catastrophe & India saw a mass exodus of migrant workers. Despite the country having a huge amount of IDPs, the Indian State has always shied away from making a comprehensive policy for them. The constant denial of IDPs in India by the State has increased their vulnerabilities. Although Land Acquisition Act, 2013; Disaster Management Act, 2005 shows that India has made certain progress regarding it, they fulfil only certain specific purposes, and now there is a need for a proper policy for IDPs. So, in this paper, we will discuss IDPs in India, their causes, vulnerabilities and will also assess the need for a proper policy for them.