Relief and rehabilitation programmes for displaced people by hydro power projects in Himachal Pradesh: Exploring the extent of awareness

There are four large scale hydropower projects and several small scale hydropower projects across the Satluj River in the state of Himachal Pradesh. The impact due to the reservoir and dams constructed for hydropower is always extensive in terms of livelihoods and rehabilitation of the local people. Apart from difficulties in coordinating hydropower development and local regional development, there is clear separation between enterprise and the local communities leading to various problems. In light of the difficulties and problems of the local people, the focus of the present study is on the issues relating displacement and resettlement of the local people in tribal district of Kinnaur of the state of Himachal Pradesh residing in upstream, on site, and downstream areas of the hydropower plants with a specific emphasis on the extent of awareness about the government programmes. Apart from that, the study also suggests some ways to enhance their levels of general awareness and the efficacy of the Government programmes. The awareness of the local people in the sample has been judged with the help of a structured Interview Schedule specifically designed for this purpose. A total of 300 respondents from Kinnaur District of Himachal Pradesh have been selected for interview by using simple random sampling technique. In general, the present study finds that a significant proportion of the beneficiaries lack awareness about the programs of the Government aimed at relief and rehabilitation.