Draft rehabilitation policy for conversion of grants into shares

The rural development ministry has come out with a draft national rehabilitation policy, which envisages, among other things, to convert 20 per cent of the rehabilitation grant to be given to Project Affected Families (PAFs) in the form of shares at book value, if a corporate organisation/company is acquiring the land.

This is just one of the many new features which have been added to the new draft policy which has been circulated as a Cabinet note to various ministries after a series of meetings held with the Prime Minister's Office.

The guidelines for the transfer of shares will be developed by the Department of Company Affairs. The draft policy will have statutory backing to be legally enforceable.

While shares and employment opportunity for displaced populations is included in the new policy, the rehabilitation grant for those have not been allotted land-for-land or employment will be a uniform level one time equivalent to 750 days minimum agricultural wages.

In irrigation projects, fishing rights in reservoirs will be given to PAFs on proving rights previously enjoyed. Comprehensive infrastructural facilities and amenities will be provided at resettlement zones in cases of displacement of 200-400 families.

If relocation takes place in an existing settlement, the same infrastructure shall also be extended to the host community. A Tribal Development Plan (TDP) has been made mandatory for projects displacing 200 or more of tribal families.

The TDP will cover development of alternate fuel, fodder and non-timber forest produce on non-forest land within five years as well as restoration of titles of tribals on alienated land.

Tribal populations would be resettled in the same Schedule Area and concerned Gram Sabhas consulted in all cases of acquisition before issuance of Section 4(1) notification under the Land Acquisition Act.