Govt mulls rehab policy for SEZ oustees

NEW DELHI: With the land aquisition process for industrial projects including special economic zones (SEZs) taking a violent turn in the country, the government is trying to finalise a new rehabilitation policy for outstees within the next three months.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has promised that the new policy will be more progressive, humane and conducive to the long term welfare of all stakeholders.

Speaking at a Ficci meet, the PM said that issues such as land acquisition and displacement of people and their rehabilitation and resettlement should be transparently addressed. Urging the Indian industry to be sensitive to the need to empower the weaker sections of society, Dr Singh said that industrial development is not a zero sum game. "The weaker sections can benefit equitably from processes of economic and social development. It can be a win-win process for all sections of society," he said.

Dr Singh assured that a new rehabilitation policy will be finalised in three months which will be more progressive and humane. The new policy, which will replace the policy drafted in 2003, will be mandatory unlike the existing policy which is non-binding.

The PM's statement comes in the wake of violence in Nandigram town of West Bengal where 22 mass organisations have come together to prevent land acquisition by the state government for a proposed SEZ by the Indonesian Salem group. At least three persons have reportedly died in the on-going violence.

A Tata Motors car project to be set up in Singur, West Bengal, has also faced strong resistance from several groups. Trinamul Congress leader Mamta Bannerjee went on a long hunger-strike to register her protest against the project.

According to commerce and industry minister Kamal Nath, not just farmers, but farm labourers and shopkeepers should also be suitably compensated if displaced. "All economic activities displaced by aquisition of land should be adequately compensated," he said.