Nov 29: The government has recently approved a new policy that protects farmlands from setting up industrial projects. On October 11, the Government of Indian released a press release published in PIB that the government was going to replace the existing National Policy on Resettlement and Rehabilitation for Project Affected Families, 2003 with National Policy on Rehabilitation and Resettlement, 2007.
Developing in the backdrop of Nandigram-West Bengal, Orissa Posco project and other Special Economic Zones (SEZs) where the issue of farmer’s protest has been a major concern with repeated upsetting battle between administrations and public, the efficacy of this new policy is still a question.
However as per the new policy, government is going to set up a National Rehabilitation Commission to implement the resettlement schemes. The policy also advocates least use of farmland; irrigated land and avoidance of multi-crop and primarily wastelands would be set free for SEZ projects. In this sense it discourages accusation of farming land.
The policy also holds the state government accountable to ensure relief to the affected people before displacing them from the purposed project. It also puts a time frame for relief and rehabilitation plan along with the utilisation of the land.
As far as compensation or resettlement of the affected people by land acquisition is concerned, the policy refers to land-for-land and jobs for at least one member of the family including pension for old, disabled, orphans, widows, unmarried girls and others come under vulnerable category.
Compensation also includes scholarships for education to one illegible person in the affected family. Policy also covers SC, ST and tribal community with special provisions.
Even though the new rehabilitation policy is welcome but the variance coming in its practical implementation need also to be removed. To check any negligence the policy should also include ‘Rehabilitation Commission’ at state level for speedy disposal of cases related. So that there will be a proper balance between the need of land for developmental activities at the same time safeguarding the interest of land owners and other including farmers and labourers.
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