01641pab a2200145 454500008004000000100002500040245005500065260000900120300001500129362001100144520125400155650003501409650001701444773003401461180718b2000   xxu||||| |||| 00| 0 eng d  aChoudhary, Kameshwar  aDevelopment dilemma: resettlement of Gir Maldharis  c2000  ap.2662-668  a22 Jul  aThe growth-led paradigm of development has resulted in global ecological imbalances, increased inter- and intra-country socio-economic inequalities, displacement, marginalisation and cultural uprooting of a large number of native people. The ecology-centred model emerged in answer, and emphasised the creation of more national parks and sanctuaries. Ironically, this also led to the displacement of a large number of native people and their further marginalisation and sufferings in social, economic and cultural terms. This paper discusses the case of displacement and resettlement of the `maldharis' of the Gir forest in Gujarat, who were displaced and resettled in 1970s and 1980s as a result of creation of a sanctuary and later a national park in the Gir forest. The state government policy of resettlement had a negative view of the maldharis, and was neither well-conceived nor implemented systematically. At present, there is an eco-development project in the Gir protected area sponsored by the World Bank, which does not approve of forced relocation and provides for voluntary relocation in a participatory way. Accordingly, the state government stance has changed, but on an experimental basis and only for this one project. - Reproduced  aResettlement - India - Gujarat  aResettlement  aEconomic and Political Weekly