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Development projects bring tremendous changes in patterns of use of land, water, and other natural resources which leads to a range of resettlement effects. This process of economic and social dislocation most often exacerbates existing gender disparities and inequalities in affected areas. When gender differences are overlooked in project planning phase, projects are unlikely to respond to women’s need and may even have negative consequences. In this present study, it was found that while planning resettlement sites for the Sardar Sarovar dam affected families; the necessity of having toilets was completely ignored. This research note provides empirical evidences to voice the case of gender inequality prevalent in access to basic amenities in Sardar Sarovar resettlements in Vadodara, Gujarat. The manuscript also calls for the inclusion of gender issues and social equity in assessment, design and implementation and monitoring must be made a compulsory element for large-scale development projects like dams.
