Events & Issues

New Delhi, 6 April 2015

Land Acquisition

FARMERS’ INTEREST IGNORED?

By Dhurjati Mukherjee

The re-promulgation of the land acquisition ordinance shall ignite the widespread protests by the Opposition in the backdrop of it being “anti-farmer”. More so, as the Ordinance has been passed at a time when farmers’ suicides are taking place in many parts of the country. In a recent report, it was revealed that in a prosperous State like Maharashtra, such suicides have increased by 40 per cent during the period, August 2014 to February 2015. On the other side of the problem, is the fact that the state of the rural economy is not in a good shape and the present Government is more geared to look after the interests of the industrial class than aim to transform the rural economy. 

It is well-known that the condition of the average Indian farmer has not improved though the economy has recorded high GDP growth during the last decade. It is also a fact that the benefits of growth have been enjoyed by the rich – the industrial class -- and partly by the middle class, at least 90 per cent of whom reside in big cities. Even in the Budget the government provided relief to the rich by lowering the corporate tax by 5 per cent but had not kept its promise of implementing the 2004-06 Swaminathan Commission report, which recommended minimum support price that gave farmers a good profit.

However, some urban analysts feel that more incentives have to be given to industrialists while curtailing subsidies to the poor and the economically weaker sections. They fail to see that reforms, high growth and the like have virtually no impact on the poor. Another aspect of the problem is job creation, which also was very low during the hey-days of high growth, as per Government statistics. The emphasis on mechanization in large and medium industry in the country leaves very little scope for employment generation.

It is necessary for the Government to investigate that those who have been given land at subsidized rates in the country—for industry or for educational institute or for health care – what have they done in terms of charity for the poor and the low income groups. Our survey reveals that while getting land at throwaway price, these have been used to increase profits and no charity has been extended to the poor and the disadvantaged sections.

Until the Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation & Resettlement (LARE) Act came into force the old 19th century Raj era law had been widely abused to dispossess thousands of farmers all over the country. While highways and roads ensured better connectivity, benefitting the rich and the middle class, the poor farmer languished in poverty and squalor as his land was taken away at throwaway price, and he had no means for his livelihood. 

Faster land acquisition is no doubt necessary but is it the only reason for coming out with the land acquisition ordinance? Why did the BJP support the 2013 bill when it intended to kill the law? Was it because of pressure from the corporate class and the industrial lobby? It is, however, a well known fact that it is extremely difficult to create a million plus jobs even if land is made available? There are some politicians who compare land acquisition in other developed countries with that of India without comparing the compensation that is paid in those countries to the land loser.

It is indeed imperative to recognize that fair compensation and jobs are very much necessary from those whose land is being taken. However, there are still disputed compensation and employment claims from the 50s and 60s when the Government acquired land for major dams, steel plants and the like. Imagine if the private sector is given a free hand to acquire land and whether – or what percentage – would actually give a fair compensation and a job to each member of the family.   

There is no logic in saying that even under the present Act the land acquisition process takes 50 days. This can definitely be expedited if the process is geared up and the Government sees to it that the babus do not take an unnecessarily long time. The justification given that the ordinance has been promulgated to expedite the process of land acquisition undoubtedly does not hold good.  

Neither is it known nor are there any available statistics about what percentage of the land loser’s family getting employment in the industry/project on which his or her land has been acquired. It is believed that permanent jobs are not normally given but temporary employment may have been given to around 50 per cent of the land loser. The problem for a half literate – or even a barely literate -- land loser to shift to other means of livelihood is very difficult.

In such a scenario, there is need to delve deep into the problem of land acquisition. There have been suggestions that wasteland should first be targeted to set up projects that normally do not have much value to the farming community. It is not known what action or plans the Government has in this direction. 35 per cent of arable land is irrigated and under no circumstances should such type of land be acquired. 

Another aspect of the problem is the need to examine whether agricultural land, which yields two crops per year, should be taken over. The case for such takeover has to be outlined and just satisfying private players for setting up industries cannot be reason. As such, it is necessary to draw up a national plan with regard to conversion of agricultural land for industrial purposes, keeping in view the rehabilitation aspect and also the future source of livelihood of the displaced and their families. If proper steps are not taken, the resultant effect in the not-too-distant future would be large-scale displacement, migration to the urban centres in search of employment and livelihood which, in turn, would further increase social chaos and tension in society. 

Land is a very vital asset and specially in a country like India where the population growth as also the population density is very high. Its judicious use is very much necessary at this juncture keeping in view the interests of the BPL groups and the economically weaker sections, which constitute over 45 per cent of the population. Thus, the whole question of land acquisition and rehabilitation needs to be examined afresh.

It is indeed a welcome development that a high-level 25-member monitoring committee has been constituted to review and monitor the implementation of resettlement and rehabilitation related to land acquisition, which is commendable.  The committee is understood to ensure that the high compensation and the R&R provisions as prescribed in the original Act are implemented before the land is acquired. However, it remains to be said that instead of having so many secretaries in the committee, independent and eminent experts like Dr. M.S. Swaminathen, Prof. Amartya Sen, Colin Gonsalves and Gopal Krishna Gandhi should have been inducted representing economists, planners, legal experts, sociologists and human rights activists so that the recommendations do not reflect any bias. ---INFA   

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