International Watch Organisation, based in the United States and India, has set up a $5 million (about Rs 22 crore) Tribal Rehabilitation Fund to ensure proper and humane rehabilitation, and resettlement, of tribals who would be displaced as a result of the Posco project in Orissa.The $5 million is the first instalment for the fund, and more money will be added as the rehabilitation and resettlement of the tribals move forward.Based on the projections of the Orissa government, around 4,000 tribal families would be displaced as a result of the Posco project. Part of the fund will be used to provide micro-economic seed money to tribalentrepreneurs for setting up small businesses in connection with the Posco plant. International Watch is scheduled to open up an office in Bhubaneswar by August 25, 2005.International Watch has been in close contact with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Congress president Sonia Gandhi, Orissa chief minister Naveen Patnaik, and various ministers and leaders encouraging expeditious infrastructure development in the state.International Watch has requested political parties to nominate a representative to the board of the Tribal Rehabilitation Fund.
