New rehabilitation policy for farmers approved

NEW DELHI: Amid an outcry over land acquisition for SEZs and other projects, the Centre on Thursday approved a national policy providing for allotment of land in return of land, besides preference to affected families for jobs in the projects coming up on their plots.
   
The National Policy on Rehabilitation and Resettlement, 2007, replacing the policy of 2003, was cleared at a meeting of the Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.
   
"The policy of the previous NDA government was disastrous as it did not take into account the interest of farmers," Information and Broadcasting Minister P R Dasmunsi told after the meeting.
   
He said the government would bring a legislation to amend the Land Acquisition Act of 1894 to implement the new policy.

The benefits provided in the policy include allotment of land to the extent available with the government in resettlement areas and preference in employment to at least one person from each nuclear family affected by the project.
   
There will be special provision for STs and SCs in the rehabilitation package.

A National Rehabilitation Commission will be set up as part of the policy and it will be empowered to keep "independent oversight over the rehabilitation and resettlement of the affected families," Dasmunsi said.
   
No project involving displacement of families beyond defined limits will be undertaken without a detailed Social Impact Assessment, which will take into account the effect of the project on communities and their common assets.
   
Dasmunsi said the credit for the new policy goes to UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi who pressed for it both inside the Congress and at public fora. "She even raised the issue at the Congress Chief Ministers' conclave in Dehradun", following which the government constituted a Group of Ministers (GoM) to suggest a comprehensive policy, he said.
   
Policy to set up large number of special economic zones (SEZs) has met with stiff resistance from various political parties in several parts of the country, particularly in Left Front-ruled West Bengal. The protest was not only against the SEZ but also land acquisition for industrial projects like the one at Singur in the state.
   
A provision has been made for the acquirer to share gains from appreciation in value of unutilised land.
   
"When land acquired is transferred for a consideration, 80 per cent of any net unearned income so accruing to the transferor shall be shared with the persons from whom the land was acquired, or their heirs, in proportion to the value of land acquired," the policy paper said.
   
The benefits of the policy will not only be extended to landowners but also others like tenants, agricultural and non-agricultural labourers, artisans and those whose livelihood depends on the land acquired.
   
Families affected by natural calamities would also get the benefits, Dasmunsi said.

A special provision has been made for providing life-time monthly pension to vulnerable persons like disabled, destitute, orphans, widows, unmarried girls, abandoned women and persons above 50 years.

The policy prescribes for a strong grievance redressal mechanism, which includes setting up of committees at the district and project levels with a provision of an Empowered Ombudsman.
    
A National Monitoring Committee and a National Monitoring Cell would be set up along with Oversight Committees in the concerned ministries and departments for each major project.

The report of the Social Impact Assessment, as provided in the policy, will be examined by an independent multi-disciplinary expert group.
   
The land acquired for public purpose will not be allowed to be transferred for any other purpose and if it remains unutilised for five years, it would be reverted back to the government.

The policy recommends that only the minimum necessary area of land, commensurate with the purpose of the project, should be taken. The use of agricultural land for non-agricultural purposes should be kept to the minimum and multi-crop land should be avoided.
   
Projects may preferably be set up on wastelands or unirrigated lands, the paper stated.
   
Provisions have also been made for financial support for construction of cattle sheds, shops, working sheds, and civic amenities in resettlement areas.
   
The benefits expressed in monetary terms have been linked to the Consumer Price Index, which will be revised from time to time, the policy document added.