Rethinking Development Through the Chita Andolan: Examining the Tension Between Economic Growth and Social Justice

“Development is not about factories, dams, and roads. Development is about people. The goal is material, cultural, and spiritual fulfillment for the people. The human factor is of supreme value in development.” 

The Chita Andolan in Madhya Pradesh brings the development–displacement debate into sharp focus. Emerging in April 2026, the movement was led by Adivasi communities and farmers affected by the Ken–Betwa River Linking Project. The protesters lay beside funeral pyres, or chitas, to symbolise what they perceive as the death of their social, cultural, and economic existence under forced displacement. The symbolism of the protest goes beyond resistance to relocation. At its core, the movement challenges a development paradigm in which the interests of a wider population are prioritised while the rights and lived realities of communities bearing the immediate costs remain marginalised.

Illustration by The Geostrata

KEN-BETWA RIVER LINKING PROJECT

India’s first-ever water-linking project focuses on the Ken and Betwa rivers, two major tributaries of the Yamuna, and will address water scarcity in the drought-prone Bundelkhand region. The Ken River basin is a surplus area from which water will be directed towards the water-deficient Betwa River basin. The project aims to provide water for unirrigated land, drinking, and hydroelectric power, and to reduce drought vulnerability in the Bundelkhand region.

THE CONTROVERSY

While the purpose of the project is to create stability near the Betwa River Basin, in the process of achieving this, it impacts the socio-economic and cultural well-being of many indigenous people and their physical environment.

The project also includes the construction of Daudhan Dam over the Ken River, and this will require the relocation of Adivasi communities, specifically the Gond and Kol tribes, and many agricultural labourers and forest-dependent families. The dam will also submerge the forest areas and portions of Panna Tiger Reserve, which will eventually impact the wildlife habitat and biodiversity. 

DEVELOPMENT VERSUS DISPLACEMENT

With every large-scale project, the debate over development and displacement resurfaces. But the core issue still remains unresolved. Development projects like dam construction, mining operations, and infrastructural corridors require large hectares of land, but this comes at the cost of people and biodiversity in the region.

Yet, this raises a fundamental question: who should be considered the true beneficiaries of such projects—the people who ultimately benefit from their outcomes, or the communities whose land, livelihoods, and way of life are directly affected by their construction?

From the perspective of development, the Ken-Betwa Project, for example, will address regional inequalities in Bundelkhand and provide the region with more water for agriculture and drinking, hydroelectricity, and overall water security. And hence, through this lens, land acquisition and displacement seem like unavoidable consequences. However, critics of such development projects say that the burden of development is borne by the marginalised communities due to loss of livelihoods and inadequate rehabilitation. These perspectives challenge the fundamental idea of economic growth, as it is believed to benefit everyone.  

CONSTITUTIONAL AND LEGAL FRAMEWORKS

There are many constitutional and legal frameworks within India, like Article 21, Article 14, and the Fifth Schedule, which ensure that development does not lead to a violation of fundamental rights. The Environment Protection Act, 1986, the Environmental Impact Assessment framework, and the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013 also safeguard fair compensation and social impact assessment. 

Regardless of these protections within the legal framework, there are many gaps in the implementation. The biggest challenge is that rehabilitation policies are overlooked, as compensation is not adequately provided. The forest rights of communities are also ignored even after the Forest Rights Act, 2006 requires the recognition and settlement of forest rights, along with the consent/certification of the Gram Sabha, before forest land can be diverted for non-forest purposes.

There is a lack of informed consent, consultation, and participation for the local communities. The social impact assessment is also conducted hastily without relevant data, and this underestimates the long-term impact. The problem is that while there are protections available on paper, they never transform into reality. This is the greatest challenge, as bridging the gap between legal guarantees and ground realities requires an inclusive approach from top to bottom. Projects such as the Sardar Sarovar Dam and Tehri Dam in the past have demonstrated how the pursuit of irrigation, electricity and broader economic benefits could entail significant displacement and disruption of local livelihoods and social structures.

KEY CHALLENGES AND SOLUTIONS

There is a need to strike a balance between economic growth and social justice when it comes to developmental projects. The project should ensure that inequalities are reduced and not deepened. And to reduce inequalities, the participation of local communities is a must. This has to be ensured through the Panchayats (Extension to Scheduled Areas) Act (PESA) and the Forest Rights Act, which aim to include those being affected.

After proper consultation, the next step is ensuring proper rehabilitation and resettlement before the project starts. The land and forests for adivasi communities are a symbol of their cultural identity and traditional knowledge systems, and it is the duty of the state to ensure their cultural sovereignty continues to exist. Biodiversity loss and deforestation are other important issues that need active participation in preserving the ecosystem. 

WAY FORWARD

The ultimate objective should not be to choose between either one of the options, development or displacement. Development has to bring economic growth by reducing social and cultural costs for the local communities. This is where sustainable development comes in, and it should focus on the environment and, in the case of India, more importantly, on the rights, dignity, and participation of affected communities.

There has to be a shift to rights-based governance that aims to protect both in letter and spirit. Rehabilitation should not be restricted to monetary compensation but should also extend to restoring livelihoods, employment, housing, education, and healthcare. Communities should become partners and beneficiaries of the project instead of victims. 

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BY VASUDHA

TEAM GEOSTRATA

info@thegeostrata.com