Resettlement & Rehabilitation Initiatives under RSHDP-I (World Bank Supported project in Rajasthan)
1.1 Introduction & Background
With the expanding the human essentials, the urban and rural areas attracting the interest of people on land. Also, it has been realized that the Land is an element for meeting the physiological as well as developmental needs of human and society. But the crux lies on the common settlement and consensus between the individuals, families, society and the agencies involved in the physical and infrastructural development. In Indian society, nowadays in any society and location, land is among the most important assets for people. May be the purposes can be different. But it fulfills the key ambition and basic requirements of the people of residential and livelihood purposes. Land administration may be defined as ‘the processes of determining, recording and disseminating information about ownership, value and use of land and its associated resources’ . The concept of 'ownership' should be understood as a relationship between people and land and it includes the mode in which rights vis-a-vis accessibility to land are held, based on statutory law, common law or customary laws. In this context, ‘resettlement’ is important because it gives people a chance to live a decent life. It is an integral part of the process of Land Acquisition. It can be a vital part of cultural and social identities, a valuable asset to stimulate economic growth, and a central component to preserving natural resources and building societies that are inclusive, resilient, and sustainable. Acquiring Land for development project is one of the key components. Land Acquisition can be facilitated by providing adequate Resettlement & Rehabilitation benefits. It includes land for land, compensation packages, rehabilitation grant that varies according to the type of land and purpose of acquisition, employment for at least one person per nuclear family, vocational training, scholarships and other skill development opportunities, allotment of outsources contracts shops or other economic opportunities and labour work at the project site. With the backdrop the project related to - Assisting PIUs in Resettlement Plan Implementation for World Bank (WB) funded projects for Rajasthan State Highway Road Development Programme - II (RSHDP-II) Package No. WB/RSHDP II/NGO/01 has been assigned to Centre for Development Communication & Studies (CDECS). The Key purpose is to provide the services of implementation support for Social Impact Assessment / Social Impact Management Plan cum Resettlement Action Plan (SIA/ SIMP cum RAP) and also carrying out such rehabilitation and resettlement activities at the grassroots level to assist the PIUs in SIA / SIMP cum RAP implementation.
1.2 The Roads Identified for Upgradation
In the State, nearly 801.388 Kms have been identified under Tranche - 1 in five different Packages. Under Tranche 1, total 11 sub project roads is financed by World Bank. The project roads are to be constructed under two modalities i) Annuity mode with a length of 331.13 km and ii) EPC mode with a length of 470.259 km. Land acquisition for Tranche 1 for 11 sub project road is 227.778 ha, private land required for the improvements proposed is 151.367 ha as per project documents. The state highways proposed for upgrading are distributed across 12 districts namely, Bikaner, Churu, Jhunjhunu, Sikar, Ajmer, Tonk, Jalore, Jaipur, Nagaur, Pali, Jodhpur and Bhilwara districts. The road sub-projects proposed under Tranche-I and their packaging details is given below.
1.3 Resettlement & Rehabilitation as per Resettlement Policy Framework (RPF)
The Resettlement Policy Framework clarifies the resettlement principles to prepare Resettlement Action Plans for sub-projects in accordance with the World Bank’s Operational Policy on Involuntary Resettlement 4.12 and national law, primarily, the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparent Land Acquisition and Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, (RFCTLAR&R) 2013.
World Bank
Safeguard
Policies Objective Applicability Safeguard
Requirements
OP/B P 4.12 Involuntary Resettlement - The objective of this policy is to avoid or minimize involuntary resettlement where feasible, exploring all viable alternative project designs. Furthermore, it intends to assist displaced person in improving their former living standards; community participation in planning and implementing resettlement; and to provide assistance to affected people, regardless of hhthe status of their legal title. There will be need
for limited land
acquisition for
certain project
corridors resulting
in: relocation or loss of shelter; loss of assets or access to assets; loss of income sources or means of livelihood. Resettlement Action
Plan in consultation
with the community
and project
Authorities.
Resettlement Action
Plan will be be
prepared).
The Resettlement & Rehabilitation process will follow the whole purpose Resettlement Policy Framework (RPF) and ensure,
(i) specify the requirements that will be followed in relation to project screening and categorization, assessment and planning, including arrangements for meaningful consultation with displaced people and other stakeholders, information disclosure requirements and where applicable, safeguard criteria that are to be used in selecting project and/or components;
The whole process of Resettlement & Rehabilitation process will follow the objective of RPF and appropriately identify, address and mitigate adverse socio-economic impacts that may occur due to the implementation of projects that involve involuntary acquisition of land and subsequent resettlement of affected families. Without proper planning and management, involuntary resettlement may result in long-term hardship for affected people. Hence, the RPF aims to avoid involuntary acquisition of land (and subsequent resettlement) wherever possible and in cases where it is unavoidable, the RPF requires Appropriate Government to develop a robust rehabilitation and resettlement plan to effectively manage the social impacts created by the project. The plan would identify full range of people affected by the project and justify their displacement after consideration of alternatives that would avoid or minimize displacement.