Transcript Realities of Rehabilitation and Resettlement Policies and

Realities of Rehabilitation and
Resettlement Policies and Its
Implementation Strategies: An
Assessment of a Thermal Power
Project in India
Dr. Uma Chatterjee Saha
Asst. Professor
Department of Health Care,
Xavier Institute For Development Action and Studies
(XIDAS), 4th Mile, VIA RFRC, Mandla Road, Tilhari,
Jabalpur-482 021, Madhya Pradesh, India.
Background

Most large-scale development projects in India has a
centralized, hierarchical and capital-intensive approach
which has assumed that technology has the answer to all
development problems.

Centralized command and control system has perhaps been
successful for achieving project objectives in terms of
physical commodities like generation of thermal power,
hydroelectric power, irrigation canals etc.

However, the approach has almost completely failed in
resettling and rehabilitating the displaced population who
have suffered intolerable injustice and trauma due to set up
of the project
XIDAS, Jabalpur,INDIA
Some relevant facts

The development projects have already displaced
21,300,000 people from 1951 to 1990 in India

At present, the overall number of displaced
exceeds 30,000,000

More than 150,000 people have been displaced in
the last 30 years to make way for power generation
projects till date.
XIDAS, Jabalpur,INDIA
Overall objective
The paper provides a basis for determining whether the
Project Affected People (PAP) have been actually
provided with the means to restore their former living
standards, thereby providing an understanding whether
their vulnerability has increased or decreased and
whether the degree of sustainability has improved or
not.
It also helps to assess the changes and outcomes that
have occurred in the social fabric of the affected
community.
XIDAS, Jabalpur,INDIA
Specific objectives

To understand the difference in land holding of the PAPs
before and after acquisition and its effect on cropping pattern,
possession of livestock and the nature of employment and
earning

To understand the amount of compensation given to PAPs
and its utilization

To assess the Impact the Project on availability of firewood
and fodder

To find the Impact of the Project on infrastructural facilities
and amenities

To find the extent of livelihood restoration activities

To find the Impact of XIDAS,
project
on the social life and status
Jabalpur,INDIA

Company’s provision of R & R and its enactment

R & R plan and quality of services – from the perspective
of the PAPs

In-depth study of the consequences of positive and
negative impact of the project and its practical solution
XIDAS, Jabalpur,INDIA
Project Area
It is country’s first Thermal Power Project
consisting of four units of 660MW, with
environment friendly super critical technology. It
is build at the central part of India.
The total land acquired was 3822.57 acres which
belonged to comprised of eight villages. The land
under acquisition includes 1715.82 acres of private
land, 1400.40 acres of Government land and
506.35 acres of Government revenue forestland.
No reserve or protected area is being acquired. As
per the State Government revenue records, there
are 2035 Project Affected Persons (PAPs),
comprising about 1400 families whose land is
being acquired.
XIDAS, Jabalpur,INDIA
METHODOLOGY
Systematic Information Collection Analysis (SICA) approach
Participatory Approach
Consultative Approach
For the survey the researchers adopted different techniques as
described below:
 Interview Schedule and Focus Group Discussion
 PRA and Observation Method
 Case Study
 Discussion and Meetings
XIDAS, Jabalpur,INDIA
Sampling Design
Complete enumeration of PAPs of 8 villages
Besides 4 nearby villages (with no intervention)
were randomly selected and surveyed and
treated as “control village” in the study for
comparison with the treatment villages.
XIDAS, Jabalpur,INDIA
ANALYSIS & DISCUSSION
Interview Status of Survey
not found
11%
migrated
7%
completed
migrated
complete
d
82%
XIDAS, Jabalpur,INDIA
not found
Background characteristics of the PAPs

Background Characteristics
(N=1632)

Age
Percentage of PAPs
31 to 40
41 to 50


21.6
30.1
Gender
Male
87.7
Marital status
Married
88.2
XIDAS, Jabalpur,INDIA


Caste
Schedule Caste
31.1
Other Backward Class
42.2
Religion
Hindu


Contd…
99.0
Type of Families
Joint
46.8
Nuclear
31.6
Education
Primary
25.8
Illiterate
39.5

Mean Family size
6.54± 3.94

Mean Dependent
5.0 ± 3.53*

Mean Annual Income

XIDAS, Jabalpur,INDIA
* Denotes standard deviation
from mean value
Rs. 39,917 ($798)
ASSESSMENT OF LAND ACQUISITION
AND COMPENSATION

There is a significant change in land holding among them,
i.e., the no. of PAPs having land before the acquisition was
1632, which came down to only 719 PAPs

The mean possession of land per PAP increased among
those who have retained their land after the company
intervention

Regarding compensation, the company had spent a net
amount of Rs. 14 crores on the PAPs, out of which a total
of Rs. one crore was utilized to purchase new land
XIDAS, Jabalpur,INDIA

There was a sudden spurt in land prices in the locality after
the disbursement of the compensation. According to them,
the land which was between Rs.10000-Rs.15, 000 before the
acquisition rose to more than 1 lac after the acquisition
But the lapse of time between the land acquisition and the
disbursement of compensation constituted some time gap,
which has been an unhappy lacuna in the people’s time
frame.

One of the positive aspects of the R & R program was the
wide-ranging coverage of PAPs (99 per cent) for
disbursement of compensation
XIDAS, Jabalpur,INDIA

The utilization of the compensation amount by
PAPs shows that the majority of them had utilized
it on house construction. Besides, almost half of
them had exhausted the amount on day-to-day
consumer needs like food, clothes, medical
treatment, and children’s education. Only a
handful of the PAPs have actually purchased land
or started income generation activities, which
might help them in getting a sustainable
livelihood.
XIDAS, Jabalpur,INDIA
THE EFFECT OF CHANGE IN THE CROPPING
PATTERN AFTER LAND ACQUISITION ON INCOME
LEVEL OF PAPS

There are significant changes in the cropping pattern of
the PAPs. While about 63 per cent of the PAPs, who where
previously involved in cultivation of Kharif crops, have now
been decreased to only 37 percent. The agricultural
involvement in the Rabi crops also decreased but
negligibly.

Although the market value of the products increases day by
day, the gross income from cultivation before the land
acquisition was Rs. 1,03,98,504 and after the acquisition, it
decreased to Rs. 93,27,239 ($1,86,545).
XIDAS, Jabalpur,INDIA

When the PAPs were asked about the reduction in
family income from agriculture about 86 per cent
people disagreed – which gives a clear implication
that the PAPS supplement the loss of income from
cultivation by other sources of income.
XIDAS, Jabalpur,INDIA
EFFECT OF CHANGE IN THE POSSESSION OF
LIVESTOCK

The mean livestock per PAP decreased from 6 to 3
and at the level of the villages, the sum of
livestock was 3973 before the acquisition, which
came down to 2050 after the acquisition.

The mean income reduction from livestock per
PAP is Rs 466 and for all the villages the total
reduction was Rs. 1,40,425.00 ($ 2809) annually
XIDAS, Jabalpur,INDIA
The main reasons for the reduction in the
number of livestock after the land
acquisition were their inability to maintain
the livestock, reduction in the grazing
ground and a reduction in the earnings of
PAPs, which reduced the purchasing
capacity of fodder from the market.
XIDAS, Jabalpur,INDIA
IMPACT ON ACCESS TO FIREWOOD
AND FODDER
Earlier, the PAPs used to collect firewood and fodder
from their own land but after the land acquisition,
many PAPs became landless and many others had a
reduction in the size of their land. Those PAPs who
were landless had to purchase firewood and fodder
from the market and those whose land size was
reduced had access to firewood and fodder from their
own land but it was insufficient. Hence, they also had to
purchase these from the market.
XIDAS, Jabalpur,INDIA
EFFECT OF CHANGE IN THE NATURE OF
EMPLOYMENT AND EARNING

The occupational transition from the
agricultural sector to the non-farm sector
was prevalent among the respondents.

Due to lack of traditional occupation, the
people depend for their livelihood mostly
on non-farm daily wage earning and
services.
XIDAS, Jabalpur,INDIA

Most often those PAPs who are willing to work get jobs as
daily wage labourer in the company and in the nearby semiurban areas. The advent of the company has opened
various avenues of work and jobs.

But outsiders are appointed on the basis of efficiency, skill
and expertise, which are hitherto missing among most of
locals, they are abstaining from it.

Moreover it is observed that the PAPs were not keen on get
jobs anywhere outside, as they feel that since the company
had taken their land and assets, it must provide them the
means of livelihood. Because of this mindset, they are
agitated and de-motivated to find job elsewhere and remain
unemployed.
XIDAS, Jabalpur,INDIA
IMPACT ON THE SOCIAL LIFE

The prevalence of child marriage is still existent after the land
acquisition.

The parda system and the female mortality rate are decreasing,
while the dowry system is increasing.

The women’s role in decision-making in household matters and
education for girls, which were high before the land acquisition,
are further increasing.

Regarding occupations, due to land loss, the migration rate has
increased, the dependency on the company has increased, while
the job opportunity has also slightly increased.

Due to the decrease in the forestland, the earlier dependency on
the forest has decreased.
XIDAS, Jabalpur,INDIA
IMPACT OF INTERVENTION ON THE SOCIAL STATUS
OF THE PAPs
About 7 per cent of the PAPs say that their social status has been
affected, the reasons are:
About 15 per cent of the PAPs say that due to land acquisition, the
existing social institutions have been dissolved.
Seven per cent of the PAPs say that their family was disintegrated after
the land acquisition
21 per cent of them say that the family feuds have increased due to
unequal distribution of compensation among the family members.
About 53 per cent of the PAPs have migrated to other places, where
they could not maintain their earlier social status.
XIDAS, Jabalpur,INDIA
IMPACT OF INFRASTRUCTURAL
FACILITIES AND AMENITIES
Taking into consideration all the above indicators, as proxy to
the living standard of the PAPs an index known as “Standard
of Living Index” (SLI), has been formulated. Analysis depicts
that PAPs in low standard of living increased by 5.8 per cent
points and subsequently it decreased in the middle and high
standard of living. Agricultural land, irrigated land and
livestock influence the present index. Thus, although the
PAPS might have more income level, saving or asset, presently
with respect to pre-acquisition phase but the index is more
influenced by the aforesaid previous indicators.
XIDAS, Jabalpur,INDIA
Positive Impact
Negative Impact
Income level has improved
Educational status and awareness of
people is improving
People have easy approach to
infrastructural facilities
Needs are emerging higher than the
income resulting in an economic
pressure on families
Dependency on the company is
increasing
Due to lack of community feeling and
sense of ownership, maintenance is
inadequate
Disappearance of local culture and
identity
People are less interested in their
traditional
occupation.
There
is
occupational mobility
Health standard has declined due to
change in food intake, work culture and
environment
Acculturation and infiltration of new
methods and systems
Access
to
various
employment
opportunities for those who are willing
to work
Life style, which includes housing,
clothing, change in livelihood, change
in food habit, educational level etc., has
improved
Job opportunities are more
People have little time for social and
ritual customs
XIDAS, Jabalpur,INDIA
The perception of the PAPs regarding the
intervention
About 33 per cent of the PAPs said that the
project is beneficial in the future. The PAPs
will be benefited by getting jobs in the
company and having many facilities like
school, hospital, park, market, bank, etc. On
the other hand, 57 per cent of the PAPs said
that the project is not beneficial for them at
present or in the near future.
XIDAS, Jabalpur,INDIA
THE COMPANY’s INTERVENTION IN
LIVELIHOOD RESTORATION
Table describes that only
2 PAPs, out of 1690, have received training on the special
course in ITI and both are satisfied.
Eight PAPs, out of 1683, are running small shops and 6 of
them are satisfied.
About 65 unskilled PAPs, out of 1690, are working in the
company and out of them 4 are satisfied.
Only 1 is a skilled worker, out of 1691 PAPs got job in the
company and he is satisfied.
Sixty-two PAPs, out of 1690, are working on contract, while
only 5 of them are satisfied.
XIDAS, Jabalpur,INDIA
Other R&R provisions

The company has many provisions for the welfare of the affected
people and it provided Tri-cycle, Wheel chairs, Hearing aids,
Tape recorders and cassettes for visually impaired, Artificial
limbs and crutches to the handicapped people.

The company also organized Health checkup camps, Eye
camps, family welfare camps and ayurvedic health camps.

It provided many facilities for schools and college, such as,
school bags & stationeries, table, chairs & durries in school,
scholarships & fee assistance, drinking water facility, computer
lab in College, etc.

the company also supported Rural Sports and Cultural Activities.

Almost all the PAPs are satisfied with the company for all these
provisions.
XIDAS, Jabalpur,INDIA
Responses regarding the quality assessment of the
company services reveals 56 per cent said that the
plan was sufficient, about 55 per cent are satisfied
with those plans and 54 per cent PAPs are happy
with the plan they have chosen. The remaining 46
per cent of the PAPs are not happy with these
plans and the reasons for their unhappiness were:
that they were compelled to take that plan, the
choices available were not enough and someone
guided them to choose the plan, etc.
XIDAS, Jabalpur,INDIA
IMPACT OF R AND R ON THE PAPs
Positive Impact
Development of basic community
infrastructures
Generation
of
employment
opportunities
Negative Impact
Loss of collectivism, sociability and
fellow feeling
Loss of Land led to change in
nutritional standard and quality food
intake.
Separate department of the R and R Never ending dependency on the
facilitated an easy approach to the company led to the loss of initiatives
company for complaints.
and creativity
Good rapport with sociologists
Aspirations of people exceeded their
grasp
Different programmes and schemes Poor follow up of the programmes
approached the affected villages
Improvement in educational standard, Demand for too many things from the
literacy level
company
Hope for further development of the Self-centeredness,
widening
gaps
area and the people
between and among the individuals.
XIDAS, Jabalpur,INDIA
CONCLUSIONS
Although a large scale effort has been made by Thermal Power
Company to implement the R & R activities
Out of a total amount of Rs. 14 crores spent for R & R only Rs.
one crore was utilized to purchase new land. Besides the lapse of
time between the land acquisition and the disbursement of
compensation constituted some time gap, which has led to an
unhappy lacuna i.e., the cost of land which was between Rs.10000Rs.15, 000 before the acquisition rose to more than 1 lac after the
acquisition. Thus 56 percent PAPs changed from agricultural
sector to the non-farm sector. Besides these PAPs are basically
farmers proved to be mostly unskilled labourer. The company
appointed outsiders on the basis of efficiency, skill and expertise
thus demotivated the PAPs and created unrest and
discontentment among.
XIDAS, Jabalpur,INDIA

The management with certain amount of
distress and exasperation says: “We have done
everything we could, why do the people
remain unhappy?”

why is it that a “turn around” has not come
about completely till date?

How to bridge the gap?
XIDAS, Jabalpur,INDIA
RECOMMENDATIONS
The R & R management of the company comprised
of engineers, who are good in factory work but
comparatively less knowledgeable about societal
need. They are advised to adopt a policy of walking
around and meeting people in person, and checking
personally for themselves that actual situation on the
ground, rather than relying solely on the
communications from lower functionaries.
The service of the state officials (politically driven)
should be activated to help the PAPs to acquire
additional land elsewhere and to move out.
XIDAS, Jabalpur,INDIA
The management of village infrastructural development
work should not be entirely transferred to the State
Government rather implemented through reliable
NGOs
A customer-friendly approach should be cultivated between
the managers of Power Company in their relations with
PAPs.
The income generation projects for the PAPs are not
properly managed. They need more motivation,
encouragement and escorting, if they are to take up
new ventures.
XIDAS, Jabalpur,INDIA
The “buy peace” approach utilized initially to coax the
recalcitrant or vocal PAPs to part with their land has
encouraged some of them to take the law into their own
hands. Before such a situation develops into a menace and
threatens public security, it needs to be checked
immediately.
This task should not be imposed on the Management
(basically engineers) of power company alone. Perhaps
some neutral bodies or groups, such as, Civil Society
organizations, Rotary Clubs, Lions Clubs, NGOs, Women’s
Organizations, etc. should come together and cooperate to
build a climate of shared concern for the whole
communities.
XIDAS, Jabalpur,INDIA
Thank you for a patient listening
XIDAS, Jabalpur,INDIA