11-05-2012, 04:10 PM
Draft Resettlement and Rehabilitation Policy
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Compensation for Displaced
Development projects for irrigation,
wildlife sanctuaries and national parks
invariably displaced large population while
they have little or no alternate source of
livelihood to offer, unlike industrial
projects which have the potential to provide
jobs, even if in limited numbers.
Hence this is the only category of projects
where the land for land offer has been
made to those evicted. Because these
projects have invariably come up in tribal
dominated areas, the rehabilitation offers
more for the scheduled tribe category of
displaced in the form of two acres of
irrigated land and three acres of nonirrigated
land, an acre more of the latter
than what general category of displaced
persons get.
Land and Displacement
Excess land acquired for projects results
in larger avoidable displacements. This
has been a constant feature of every project
in Orissa. Excess than needed land for a
commercial entity is capital investment
with assured returns though it is ostensibly
acquired for future expansion. The
Hindustan Aeronautics was established in
1963 at Sunabeda in tribal-dominated
Koraput district for manufacturing defence
components.
Benefit Delayed Is Benefit Denied
NALCO acquired a total of 10,058 acres
of land of which 2,427.30 acres was for
bauxite mines, 2,638.96 acres for construction
of the township and 6,992.50
acres for setting up of the alumina plant.
The following is an example of the
common but gross injustices that take
place during implementation of otherwise
fair R&R policies – NALCO in Koraput
district paid compensation for land and
houses to 59 displaced families in
Champapadr and 16 families in Koraguda
village in 1982.
Conclusion
Although the draft R&R Policy, 2006
appears to be a thoughtful document, the
R&R clause in all the MoUs signed in
recent times have just two clauses. Clause
5 (A) (b) which says – “For rehabilitation
and displaced families, R&R packages
would be implemented as per prevailing
guidelines and practices of government of
Orissa”. Clause 5 (G)(a) states – “In the
matter of employment, preference will be
given to the people of Orissa subject to
their possessing the necessary qualifications;
[concerned industry] will make every
effort to improve their skill levels, if
necessary through specialised training.