An Explanation of Resettlement in Rural Sustainable Development Using Grounded Theory Approach (Case Study: Resettlement in Flooded Villages in Golestan Province)

There has been a tremendous surge of interest in the issue of sustainability of resettlement plans; moreover, the economic, social, and environmental consequences of this issue have been frequently touched upon by rural planners and decision-makers. As evidence shows, lack of assessments and enough knowledge on the issue of resettlement has led to unsustainable resettlement plans. Under the grounded theory approach and with a qualitative method, the current case study attempts to answer this question that "how do the communities under study evaluate the effects of resettlement on sustainable development in their community?"
THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK: Resettlement is a process that helps people mitigates the effects of displacement on their standard of living. A sustainable development approach uses resettlement as an opportunity to improve living standards of displaced people and ensure they benefit from the development activity. Resettlement planning allows the impacts of displacement to be mitigated and development opportunities to be created for those who have been affected. While adequate and early resettlement planning may increase the initial investment costs of an activity, long-term benefits include fewer delays and cost during project implementation, greater benefits from economically productive resettles, and reduced welfare costs to society. International experiences of voluntary and involuntary resettlement reveal that it is difficult to achieve success, particularly, when resettlement is carried out as part of development projects.
The level of analysis in the present research include Faraghi, displaced villages of Qulaq Kasan, lower Boq Qeje, and upper Boq Qeje and local informant's unit of analysis. 32 subjects were selected through snowball sampling from among local informants. The interview with the subjects continued until theoretical saturation was reached. In the current research, the conceptual model was designed through systematic implementation of a five-stage grounded theory and combination of codes (open coding, axial coding, and selective coding).
Based on what has previously been said about the changes in several aspects of resident's lives in villages under resettlement scheme, it can be claimed that tremendous changes have been observed in the way the subjects lead their lives as a result of performing resettlement approach in the rural community of eastern Golestan. Therefore, based on what has been said, one can say that observations and investigations represent variations of "subjective-objective" changes in the region. Concerning economic issues in the livelihoods of the people living in rural areas, one can see a "transformation in occupational structure", i.e., extended service jobs and reduced number of jobs in the agricultural sector; "life style", that is tendency towards urban life and distance from rural life, "reduction in employment" and "loss of income and debt to the banking system" and especially extended usury and pre-sale of the agricultural products. Impossibility of livestock activities has made some individuals return to old rural places and also has led to "double settlement" of some individuals in order to utilize the facilities of the old place.
Regarding social issues, one can experience a "social change", such as lack of face-to-face communication, change in dimensions of social actions, change in social relations, transformation of social control tools, and relational changes. "Change of neighborhood", "transformation of family", and increase in nuclear families are some other relevant issues. Furthermore, resettlement results in "relative transformation of rural management pattern", that is development of formal and state organizations, "improved welfare", and "education".
Environmentally speaking, areas with resettlement plan have experienced "change of housing pattern" and "non-functionality due to production activities", "improved safety against flooding" through applying technical standards in the construction of new homes and staying away from flood-prone areas resulting in "ease of communication with the neighboring towns", and "expansion in the use of modern forms of communication", such as internet especially in the new city of Faraghi.
Although resettlement of rural people is necessary in critical times, it should be implemented according to the local conditions of people in addition to considering their economic, social, and environmental requirements of them in the form of suitable projects including replacement, integration, and regrouping of villages. The most important economic considerations in implementation of resettlement plans include employment, production, and communities with resettlement plan. Based on the findings of the current research, resettlement plans in flooded areas of Eastern Golestan do not correspond with sustainability pattern. No decrease in poverty, inequality, and no specific transformation in agriculture are proof of claim. Accordingly, the grounded theory of "resettlement with a physical non-integrated approach and mean sustainability" is presented for villages under resettlement plan for the area under study.