City and Industrial Development Corporation (CIDCO) today said it has identified 300 "bara balutedars" in 10 villages in the vicinity of upcoming Navi Mumbai international airport and has joined hands with Tata Institute of Social Science (TISS) to conduct a survey on steps to be initiated for their economic and social welfare.
"There are around 300 'bara baluterdars' or village servants in the 10 villages which fall in the vicinity of the Navi Mumbai airport. TISS will conduct a survey of these villages and analyse the steps needed to be taken for their upliftment," a release issued by CIDCO said.
The Bara Balutedar System was a servant-cum-caste systems in Maharashtra during the old Maratha rule.
"On the basis of the survey, CIDCO can decide what kind of training should be imparted to these people or how much financial assistance can be provided under which programme of the state government, and even on providing them bank loans for starting their own business," it said.
CIDCO had earlier undertaken a programme to provide training as well as job opportunities to the youth, in the age group of 18-35 years, from the project-affected areas.
The over Rs 14,500 crore Navi Mumbai airport was conceived 27 years ago but had been held up due to issues relating to land acquisition and environment clearances.
However, after several months of hectic negotiations, the project-affected persons (PAPs) finally agreed to the Maharashtra government's offer of 22.5 per cent developed land for every hectare of land acquired.
