Development vs. Rights

Abstract Human rights and environmental protections are often violated as a consequence of development activities. In addition to harming the environment, this increases the marginalisation of those who are already marginalised. The development paradigm that is based on the interests of the majority not only tends to retard the indigenous people but also renders them incapable of competing with the majority. For the indigenous people, development has always been a problem rather than a solution. Development initiatives under the umbrella of globalisation with a label of monotony, ignore the aspects of the diverse livelihoods of many indigenous peoples. The Niti Aayog proposed in its vision document, the Sustainable Development of Little Andaman, in 2021, that the island should be developed into a megacity by utilising its natural features and strategic location. The long-term objective is to develop the island into a major financial tourism hub that can rival Hong Kong and Singapore. This plan will, on the one hand, advance commerce, employment, and economic growth; on the other hand, environmental conservation issues will also arise. Concerns over this vision document have indeed been voiced by several academics, environmentalists, and conservationists due to issues with Onge indigenous rights, ecological fragility, and earthquake and tsunami susceptibility. In this context, the research article aims to study and analyse the proposed megacity project and its impact on the rights of Onge tribes and the environment.