Sadly, affected people come last in the SEZ list
In all the commotion over SEZ and farm land acquisition, perhaps one thing that has not been given enough thought is the socio-economic impact on the people.
By Girish Kuber, TNN |
MUMBAI: In all the commotion over SEZ and farm land acquisition, perhaps one thing that has not been given enough thought is the socio-economic impact on the people. A study by the Mumbai-based Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS) has attempted to do this, and observes that displacement is not restricted to just the inhabitants of a village but to all dependants on the system.
“All are equally affected and get deprived, directly or indirectly, of their means of livelihood. The relief and rehabilitation plan should include these groups of people,” says the report. The relief and rehabilitation package should be made acceptable to all the project affected people (PAP), it insists.
The study pertained to Maha Mumbai SEZ, but much before the Reliance group came into the picture, and was completed in December 2005. The SEZ was to be promoted by the Sea King Group, but was later taken over by Reliance.
The study group visited 15 villages, talked to villagers extensively at regular intervals, studied their lifestyle and compiled an 80-page report, a copy of which is available with ET.
“Displacement usually shatters the social-economic, cultural and physical linkages of the people. These upheavals and disintegration of firmly settled communities will indeed create problems of resettlement and readjustment,” says the report.
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But even the projects affected are not fully aware of the problems ahead. It wants all the concerned to “recognise and acknowledge the right to information of local population” as the majority of villagers, including Panchayat members, are unaware of the nature and character of the project.A portion of the Maha Mumbai SEZ lies along the sea shore and deprives the people of their livelihood, fishing. Says study, “As most of the households depend upon fishing, and fish form an important part of their diet, it has to be ensured that they have access to the sea during and after the development of the project”.
Another issue relates to compensation. Since many of the PAPs may not have dealt in large amount of cash, the report suggests that the villagers should be given appropriate “money management training and their money should be invested to give reliable returns”.
It also wants the SEZ developer not to severe villagers’ ties. “It has to be ensured that their social and physical accessibility to various resources is not stopped due to the project,” it suggests. According to the study, the loss of traditional occupation will have the worst impact on men above 40 years in general and women in particular. “There is a need to make a specific plan for the vulnerable sections so that they remain gainfully employed and do not become emotionally dependent on others,” says the report.
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Most crucial part of the study, however, deals with the family structure. “A household may consist of more than one family and may be living as a joint family under a single roof. In such cases each family should be considered a single unit for rehabilitation,” it states. It is quite possible that there are several families of wage earners, migrant labourers and landless agriculture labourers who will indirectly be affected. These families should also be included in R&R.The study also sounds a note of caution that PAPs may get a raw deal from real-estate agents and middlemen. “It has come to the notice that many real estate agents are buying land from poor at cheaper rates. These lands would be later sold to the project at higher rates. If this continues unhindered, it will affect the PAPs,” it cautions.
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