Q. Land needed for mining, dams and other large-scale projects is acquired mostly from Adivasis, hill dwellers and rural communities. The displaced persons are paid monetary compensation as per the legal provisions. However, the payment is often tardy. In any case, it cannot sustain the displaced families for long. These people do not possess marketable skills to engage in some other accusation. They end up as low paid migrant labourers. Moreover, their development goes to industries, industrialists and urban communities whereas the costs are passed on to these poor helpless people. This unjust distribution of costs and benefits is unethical.
Suppose you have been entrusted with the task of drafting a better compensation-cum-rehabilitation policy for such displaced persons, how would you approach the problem and what would be the main elements of your suggested policy?
Q. Land needed for mining, dams and other large-scale projects is acquired mostly from Adivasis, hill dwellers and rural communities. The displaced persons are paid monetary compensation as per the legal provisions. However, the payment is often tardy. In any case, it cannot sustain the displaced families for long. These people do not possess marketable skills to engage in some other accusation. They end up as low paid migrant labourers. Moreover, their development goes to industries, industrialists and urban communities whereas the costs are passed on to these poor helpless people. This unjust distribution of costs and benefits is unethical.
Suppose you have been entrusted with the task of drafting a better compensation-cum-rehabilitation policy for such displaced persons, how would you approach the problem and what would be the main elements of your suggested policy?
The difficulties of project affected persons can be solved by helping them with liberal and enlightened policies. In former times, authorities tended to ignore the economic, social and cultural disruption which the displaced groups and families faced due to the construction of large projects. They were insensitive to the rehabilitation of the displaced groups. It is now recognized, after many agitations against large projects, that the displaced groups should be enabled to transition easily to a new life in a new, congenial setting.
The required measure consist of the following:
- Cash compensation for relocation in new habitation.
- Creation in such habitations of infrastructure and social amenities for civic life.
- These are house site plots, internal roads, drainage, schools, hospitals and drinking water supply.
- Depending on their preference houses can be built for them or they can be given money for construction on their own,
- As far as possible they can be shifted to the new location together as a social group to preserve their existing family and social ties.
- One adult member of the family can be given employment in project activities.
- Sincere attempts should be made to reproduce in the new location the characteristic cultural symbols of their former habitation.
- The authorities should ensure in the new location harmonious relations between the newly settled people and the old residents.
The difficulties of project affected persons can be solved by helping them with liberal and enlightened policies. In former times, authorities tended to ignore the economic, social and cultural disruption which the displaced groups and families faced due to the construction of large projects. They were insensitive to the rehabilitation of the displaced groups. It is now recognized, after many agitations against large projects, that the displaced groups should be enabled to transition easily to a new life in a new, congenial setting.
The required measure consist of the following:
- Cash compensation for relocation in new habitation.
- Creation in such habitations of infrastructure and social amenities for civic life.
- These are house site plots, internal roads, drainage, schools, hospitals and drinking water supply.
- Depending on their preference houses can be built for them or they can be given money for construction on their own,
- As far as possible they can be shifted to the new location together as a social group to preserve their existing family and social ties.
- One adult member of the family can be given employment in project activities.
- Sincere attempts should be made to reproduce in the new location the characteristic cultural symbols of their former habitation.
- The authorities should ensure in the new location harmonious relations between the newly settled people and the old residents.
