SANGHARSHPress …
SANGHARSH
Press Release
MoRD Minister Jairam Ramesh refuses dialogue
– MPs support People’s movements, denounce the Bill by the ministry –
Sangharsh concludes the dharna in Delhi with Rally to Parliament
August 23, Jantar Mantar, New Delhi: Union Cabinet Minister in charge of the Ministry of Rural Development, Shri. Jairam Ramesh refused to meet the people’s representatives from across the country who are in Delhi to protest against his ministry’s diluted version of what should have been a comprehensive Bill to replace the Land Acquisition Act 1894. The people’s organisations and unions, under the banner of Sangharsh criticised the minister for refusing to engage with genuine people’s concerns on the proposed bill titled ‘Right to Fair Compensation, R&R and Transparency in Land Acquisition’.
Leaders from movements and political parties critiqued the way the ministry has gone ahead in finalising the draft bill rejecting most inputs from the Parliamentary Standing Committee and the people’s movements. The Sangharsh participants took out a symbolic rally to Parliament on the concluding day to end the three-day dharna and Jan Morcha.
Leaders of different political parties visited the Dharna and addressed the gathering, in support of the demands ofSangharsh. Shri. Dileep Singh Bhuria (former MP) demanded that people’s voices against displacement and struggles against destructive projects be taken into account while replacing the colonial Land Acquisition Act. “Large number of the development projects and industries will displace adivasis and dalits from their only livelihood source, land. It is unfair that they are being ill-treated by the planners and the companies. They have a legitimate right to be part of the development planning process”, he asserted.
Shri. Thirumavalavan (Member of Parliament, Viduthalai Chiruthikkal, Tami Nadu) spoke in support of the people’s struggle against Koodankulam Nuclear Plant and joined cause with the dharna against Land Acquisition and proposed new legislation. He also assured the people that their concerns will be raised in the Lok Sabha.
MP from Kerala, Com. P Rajeev (CPI-M), who was also a member of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Rural Development, said that the process followed by MoRD was against the spirit of democracy and violated the rights of the parliament and its members. He wondered how is it that the minister could openly proclaim that they will not accept some of the key recommendations of an all-party committee on the subject. “This is nothing but a mockery of our parliament and an attack on our democratic polity”, the MP asserted. Pointing to the CAG report on PPPs and ‘Coalgate’, Com. Rajeev said that UPA government has lost all moral authority to continue in power. He said that CPI-M will support the struggle and oppose the Bill in Parliament and outside.
Women representatives from Sonbhadra narrated the struggle against land acquisition in Kaimur forest region. “We are facing atrocities by the state daily, but now we are responding to them. When we take out rallies, they then come and take away our bows and arrows, they should not blame us tomorrow, if we start doing the same to them – snatch their guns”, said Hulsi and Sukalo. “The guns are anyway used to protect the companies and the feudal lords” added Lalti Devi. Rajmukari, the leader of the Kaimur Kshetra Adivasi Mahila Mazdoor Sangathan stated that the people have learnt the lesson that the state only protects the rich.
Community leader Niveta Devi from Dudhwa National Park, UP of the Tharu Adivasi Mahila Mazdoor Kisan Manch narrated the movement experiences in the struggle against Forest Department’s attack on the people hand-in-glove with the forest mafia. “I lost the fear about police, once they took out the worst violence on us. We were thrashed and my forehead was broken by their lathis, but that helped us understand that they could only use brutal state power, break our bodies and not our movement. The police and forest department cannot detract us from our struggle to protect the forest and reclaim our community rights”.
Jameel Bhai of Ghar Bachao Ghar Banao Andolan, who spent more than two weeks in jail resisting evictions in Sion Koliwada, said nearly 60% of Mumbai lives in slums and bastis. They are being evicted in the name of urban beautification and real estate. He demanded that a urban working people’s protection of land and habitat rights should be brought before the Parliament. Talking about the issues of urban poor in the capital city, Nanu Prasad Gupta of the Jan Sangharsh Vahini, Delhi said “The government is assisting the builder lobby at the cost of the low income group people and communities, whose labour sustains the city. The police is acting like the goons of this real estate mafia”. Ishwar bhai associated with Shehari Mahila Adhikar Manch said that the lives of urban poor are worse than it was during the times of British Raj. He said that livelihood of street vendors were being destroyed by the police and that people are evicted from the banks of Yamuna, to give space to elite malls and real estate. Kamla Behen (Narmada Bachao Andolan) asserted that only people’s sustained struggles can sustain the poor and unheard communities. Balkeshwar, Kaimur Kshetra Mukti Morcha from Bihar stated that their movement is fighting the state forces and the Maoists at the same time. “We will fight our battle democratically and defeat the politics of gun”, he said.
Ridiculing the government allocation of 12000 crores in the name of Adivasi Welfare, Shri. BD Sharma (former SC & ST Commissioner) said that the UPA government was not interested in the indigenous people of this country and was ridiculing the people by their reference to the “poor adivasis”. “The adivasis are the richest people, who own and live on rich land, minerals and water”, he pointed. “The UN declaration in 2007 makes it clear that the indigenous people are the rightful owners of the over-ground resources and underground minerals. But our government feels that adivasis can be thrown out of their habitats and their land and resources can be easily handed down to corporations and companies”.
“Political parties will have to come out and make their position clear with regard to proposed Bill and join hands with us”, asserted Guman Singh of Himalaya Niti Bhiyan. People’s representatives affected by proposed nuclear projects likeKoodamkulam, Jaitapur, Haripur, and Gorakhpur along with struggles against thermal power projects from Maharashtra joined the struggle on the last day of Dharna. The other prominent people and leaders who spoke at the public meeting included: Shri. Umesh Babu, (Economist), Munshilal from Rewa (Birsa Munda Bhoo Adhikar Manch, Padhya Pradesh), Maqsood Alam & Shanta Chauhan (Ghar Bachao Ghar Banao Andolan – Mumbai) and Master Umesh Singh (Gorakhpur Parmanu Pariyojna Virodhi Manch).
For details contact Sangharsh Media team:
Sanjeev – 99958797409 | Shweta – 9911528696 |Vijayan – 9582862682
Sangharsh is a struggle platform and process since 2007, comprising of various people movements and national organisations fighting anti- people policies and working towards a just and egalitarian society
c/o: 6/6, Jangpura B, Mathura Road, New Delhi – 110014 # 011-26680914 , 24374535 / 9818905316
for photos and other details, email : action2007@gmail.com Web : http://napm-india.org/node/326
http://www.flickr.com/photos/joeathialy/sets/72157631173316884/
Press Release: …
Press Release: August 22, 2012- Sangharsh
Repeal Land Acquisition Act, 1894 Now; present a comprehensive Bill focusing on Development Planning, Land Use,
Resettlement & Rehabilitation
On Day-2, Leaders of political parties and Members of Parliament join in support of Sangharsh Dharna in Jantar mantar
August 22, Jantar Mantar, New Delhi : “Land Acquisition Act, 1894 has lived its life, served its colonial and exploitative purpose for the capitalists and Rulers of the country. It must be repealed. The business as usual of handing over large tracts of land to public and private corporations for non-public purposes can’t continue anymore. Hence, any new Bill has to be in light with the existing political realities and waging conflict over natural resources in the country led by millions of farmers, workers, forest dwellers, fisherfolks, and those dependent on the natural resources for livelihood. The redrafted Bill titled, ‘Right to Fair Compensation, Resettlement, Rehabilitation and Transparency in Land Acquisition’, though accepting certain provisions as suggested by the social movements, is pro-market and pro-investment and will only further the land conflict”, said Medha Patkar of National Alliance of People’s Movements, in a message to the ongoing Janmorcha at Jantar Mantar. “Mr. Jairam Ramesh’s bill definitely falls far too short of democratic expectation”, she added.
“Jo Jameen Sarkari Hai, Woh Jameen Hamari Hai” (slogan originally given by Dr. Ambedkar, meaning ‘the land that belongs to the government, rightfully belong to the people of this country’) was heard all over Jantar Mantar on day-2 of the Sangharsh Jan Morcha dharna. The dharna received further boost by the joining in of people from Mumbai’s Ghar Bachao Ghar Banao Andolan, Birsa Munda Bhoo Adhikar Manch (Madhya Predesh), Satark Nagrik Sangathan (Delhi), and Bhoomi Bachao Andolan (Kanjhawla, Delhi).
Ashok Choudhury, General Secretary of National Forum of Forest People and Forest Workers (NFFPFW) said that people have not come to Jantar Mantar to beg for anything and instead representatives of various struggles have come to give a warning to the government to mend its ways. He said that if the Forest Rights Act can talk about correcting the historical injustice done to forest communities, the new land bill should premise itself around correcting the historical injustice done to all the oppressed and marginalised communities of the country who have been displaced in the name of development projects. Agreeing to Com. Ashok, the Member of Parliament from Robertsganj, Shri. Pakauri Lal Kol (Samajwadi Party) said that he and his party agree with the demands raised by Sangharsh.
Government will acquire for the provision of land in the public interest for private companies for the production of goods for public or provision of public services, says the Bill. “Is the government a real estate agent? What right does it have to disrobe self-sustaining community, which feeds the nation to take their land and hand it over for real estate development in the name of urbanisation through various City Development Authorities. Nearly 43,000 Hectares of land are to be acquired by the Greater Noida Development Authority alone. Between 2000-2005 more than 17,73000 Hectares of agricultural land has been diverted for non-agrarian use, the previous parliamentary standing committee report mentioned. If this continues then we are headed towards food insecurity, inflation, large-scale malnutrition and no half-hearted measures like Food Security Bill will be able to salvage that. Will people in new India eat concrete, highways and electricity”, asked Bhupendera Singh Rawat of Jan Sangharsh Vahini and Bhomi Bachao Andolan that leads the struggle of farmers in Delhi.
Corporate lobbyists wants the government to acquire land for them, since nearly 70% of their projects are stuck due to opposition of the people towards land acquisition and other illegalities committed by them. “If Ratan Tata, Azim Premji, Mukesh Ambani, Anil Ambani and Naranyanmurthi of the India Inc are all for fair business, competition and growth then they don’t need to hide behind government in the name of public purpose. You stand for profit and primitive accumulation and nothing else. While 42 percent of children below 5 years of age are malnourished India Inc is busy playing its IPLs and developing Expressways, Airports, Golf Courses, High Rises and Power Plants. We will not let this happen, let this be very clear to India Inc. We will not allow the new land acquisition bill to make matters easy for you”, said Kamla Yadav of Narmada Bachao Andolan fighting for 27 years now in Narmada valley against Sardar Sarovar dam and struggling for livelihood based rehabilitation of the displaced.
Members of Parliament and leaders of political parties who spoke at the dharna and extended support to Jan Morcha included: Com. Amarjeet Kaur of Communist Party of India (CPI), Tarun Mandal MP (independent), Atul Anjan (former MP – CPI), SP Singh Baghel (General Secretary, BSP and Rajya Sabha MP) and Pakauri Lal Kol MP (Samajwadi Party). The leaders demanded that the LAA 1894 be repealed and the new comprehensive bill incorporate the recommendations of the Parliamentary Standing Committee and that MoRD do fresh consultations with mass organisations and people’s movements on the bill.
Nikhil De of Mazdoor Kisan Shakti Sangathan (MKSS, Rajasthan), and several other solidarity organisations spoke at the dharna. Nikhil demanded that the UPA government respect the decentralised democracy and bestow the right to planning development on the Gram Sabhas.
The Sangharsh participants joined the Candlelight Vigil that was organised in the eve at India Gate, in solidarity with the targeted communities of North East and other parts of India, who are victims of ongoing communal and ethnic conflict in many parts of the country.
For details contact Sangharsh Media team:
Sanjeev – 99958797409 | Shweta – 9911528696 |Vijayan – 9582862682
Sangharshis a struggle platform and process since 2007, comprising of various people movements and national organisations fighting anti- people policies and working towards a just and egalitarian society
c/o: 6/6, Jangpura B, Mathura Road, New Delhi – 110014 # 011-26680914, 24374535 / 9818905316
for photos and other details, email : action2007@gmail.com Web : http://napm-india.org/node/326
…
Press Release
21st August 2012
Sangharsh demands UPA not to proceed with the undemocratic
Land Acquisition Bill in Parliament
Thousands gather in Delhi for three days (21-23 August) in Jan Morcha against land grab and the anti-people ‘Right to Fair Compensation, R&R Bill 2012’
Jantar Mantar, New Delhi – “The UPA Government is trying to fool both the parliament and the people of India, by bringing on the “Right to fair compensation, R&R and transparency in Land Acquisition Bill, 2012”, stated Dr. Sunilam of Kisan Sangharsh Samiti, Madhya Pradesh. Dr. Sunilam was speaking at the opening of the three day Jan Morcha in Delhi, organised by Sangharsh collective, against land grab, corporate exploitation and corruption.
“The government not only has betrayed the Aam Admi’s will, but also has effectively rejected the consultations and recommendations of the two Parliamentary Standing Committees on the subject”, added Roma of National Forum of Forest People and Forest Workers (NFFPFW, Kaimur region, UP).
The public meeting and dharna organised at Jantar Mantar on the occasion of the Monsoon session of the Parliament challenged the government to try and pass the Bill in the current form. “The bill will face the same fate as that of the LAA Amendments Bill that UPA-1 tried to pass in Rajya Sabha in 2009”, remarked Madhuresh Kumar, National Organiser of National Alliance of People’s Movements (NAPM). “The Ministry of Rural Development is ridiculing the lives and struggles of people of this country whose fight has been to protect their precious land and resources and not for ‘better compensation’, he added.
Martyrs from several anti-displacement struggles, from Assam to Gujarat and Punjab to Muthanga, in Kerala were remembered by the Jan Morcha. At the event at Jantar Mantar, tombstones were erected with the names of valiant fighters who lost their lives to the brutal violence of the state police or corporate goons. Families of some of the Martyrs were present at the Dharna at Sansad Marg. “We demand that the government has to first declare about the land already acquired, used and the fate of those who lost their livelihood. There can be no talk about new land acquisitions unless we talk of the historical injustices” (poorana hisaf saaf karo phir naye kee baat karo), addedShanta Bhattacharya, of Kaimur Kshetra Mahila Mazdoor Kisan Morcha.
The new draft bill, in its current form has gone against many reccommendations of people’s movements as well as the Parliamentary Standing Committee (PSC). Some of the key issues raised by the dharna are as following:
- The centralised planning process for development projects must give way to participatory and consent based planning, whereby the Gram Sabhas and Basti Sabhas should have the primary say in deciding what kind of development is required for the area and what constitutes public purpose
- The current bill legitimises land acquisition of most kinds and by anyone even for private profit, and is only trying to play with language of transparency and fair compensation
- Agricultural lands of all kinds need to be excluded from acquisition. It is not a question of multi-crop or single-crop, nor is it an issue of amount of compensation
- The government should not use the ‘principle of eminent domain’ and land acquisition powers to acquire land for Private projects of all kinds and Public Private Partnership projects (PPP)
- All the 16 central acts, as suggested by the PSC, should be brought under the purview of the new comprehensive legislation
- The present Bill is strictly a rural displacement related bill, since it completely overlooks the millions of urban working people impacted by urban projects and displacement. This needs to be urgently rectified before the Bill is placed in Parliament.
“It needs to be noted that nearly 100 million people have been displaced since independence and with a dismal 17-20 percent rate of rehabilitation, we had suggested that not only the retrospective application of the provisions of the new act but a National Resettlement & Rehabilitation Commission be established to deal with the claims of the projected affected people from various projects, stated Vimalbhai of MATU Jan Sanghattan, Uttarakhand.
The leaders and representatives of mass organisations who spoke at the Janmorcha included: Shanta Bhatacharjee (NFFPFW, UP), Jagdish Purohit, (Mansi Vakal Band Vistapith Sangarsh Samithi, Rajasthan),Mansaram Bhai (Narmada Bachao Andolan), Kalu Bhai (Chittorgarh, KKMS, Rajasthan), Bhupendra Singh Rawat (Jan Sangharsh Vahini, Delhi & NCR), Aradhana Bhargava (Kisan Sangharsh Samiti, MP), Vijay Sharma, National Hawkers’ Federation, Kolkatta), Devjit Dutt (NAPM, West Bengal), Ganesh (Mansiwakad Dam, Rajasthan), Ranjan Singh (Sita Marhi, Bihar), Ghasi Bhai (Adivasi Kranti Sangattan, Odisha), Rajnish Gambhir(NFFPFW, Khiri, UP), Hansraj Pradhan (Fatehabad anti-nuclear struggle, Haryana), Maharaja Sangram Singh(Kisan Sangharsh Samiti & NAPM), Mangu Singh (Kisan Sangharsh Samiti), Raj Singh Dawas (Bhoomi Bachao Andolan), Rajpal Sewali (Sonipat), Babu Singh Patel (Kisan Sangharsh Samiti, UP), Mohan (Odisha Chas Parivesh Suraksha Parishad) and many Delhi based intellectuals and supporters.
Vijoo Krishnan of All India Kisan Sabha spoke at the gathering in support of demand for a comprehensive bill. The Janmorcha also witnessed a powerful cultural performance by the Delhi based theatre group, Asmita.
For details contact Sangharsh Media team:
Sanjeev – 99958797409 | Shweta – 9911528696 |Vijayan – 9582862682
Sangharsh is a struggle platform and process since 2007, comprising of various people movements and national organisations fighting anti- people policies and working towards a just and egalitarian society
c/o: 6/6, Jangpura B, Mathura Road, New Delhi – 110014. Ph: 011-26680914, 24374535 / 9818905316
For photos and other details, email : action2007@gmail.com Web : http://napm-india.org/node/326
नए भूमि अधिग्रहण बिल के खिलाफ जनमोर्चा
संसाधन बचाओ ! आजीविका बचाओ !
कंपनियों की ज़ागीर नहीं, ये देश हमारा है !
नए भूमि अधिग्रहण बिल के खिलाफ
विकास नियोजन में ग्राम सभा की सही भागेदारी और भू-अधिकार कानून चाहिये !
जंतर मंतर, दिल्ली में जनमोर्चा
देश भर में विभिन्न कार्यक्रम, मोर्चे और प्रस्ताव | 21-22-23अगस्त, 2012
प्रिय साथी, जिंदाबाद !!
पिछले कई सालों से भूमि अधिग्रहण एवं पुनर्वास के सवाल पर नया कानून बनाने की सरकारी कोशिश रही है। जिस पर देश भर के किसान, मछुआरे, भूमिहीन कामगार, दलित, आदिवासी, ग्रामीण-शहरी महिलायें व शहरी गरीब एवं मेहनतकश तबका लगातार इस पर अपनी प्रतिक्रिया और प्रत्युत्तर देते रहे हैं। आज देश के हर कोने में प्राकृतिक संसाधनों की रक्षा को लेके जन संघर्ष जारी है | देश का कोई भी भाग जन संघर्षों से अछूता नहीं है, जैसे नर्मदा, टिहरी, दामोदर, कोयलकारो, सिंगूर, नन्दीग्राम, सोनभद्र, छिन्दवाड़ा, लखीमपुर, भावनगर, मुंद्रा, काशीपुर, रायगढ़, श्रीकाकुलम, वांग मराठवारी, फतेहाबाद, असम, अरुणाचल या फिर मध्य भारत के खदानों वाले क्षेत्रों सहित मुंबई, पटना, दिल्ली, बंगलोर आदि शहरी बस्तियां । अपनी ही सरकार से अपनी ही भूमि की रक्षा के लिये होने वाले शहीदों की सूची भी बढ़ती जा रही है और हमारे साथियों की संख्या जेलों में भी बढ़ रही है । इन के बावजूद जन संघर्षो के बदौलत ही सरकार और कंपनियां अपने नापाक इरादों में कामयाब नहीं हो पाई है |
भूमि अधिग्रहण जन संघर्षों की बदौलत एक राजनैतिक मुद्दा बन गया है, ऐसे में एक राजनैतिक तौर से सर्वसम्मति से लाए गए कानून की जरूरत है ना की एकतरफा तौर पर बार-बार नाम बदल-बदल कर भूमि अधिग्रहण बढ़ाने और पूंजीपतियों के पक्ष का कानून | ग्रामीण विकास मंत्रालय ने एक संयुक्त बिल पेश किया है और उसका नाम रखा है ‘‘उचित मुआवजे का अधिकार, पुनर्स्थापना, पुनर्वास एवं पारदर्शिता भूमि अधिग्रहण बिल, 2012’’ । जिसमें दावा है कि यह सरकार की प्रतिबद्धता को प्रतिबिम्बित करेगा, परियोजना प्रभावित लोगों के लिए कानूनी गारन्टी की सुरक्षा देगा, और भूमि अधिग्रहण प्रक्रिया में पारदर्शिता सुनिश्चित करेगा। लेकिन ये दावे बिलकुल खोखले हैं !
इस बिल में जिस तरह से ग्रामीण विकास मंत्रालय ने जनसंगठनों के सुझावों और सर्वदलीय संसदीय स्थायी समिति की रिर्पोट को नकारा है वह एक प्रकार से अनादर है, जनसंघर्षो का, जो कि न सिर्फ भूमि, जल, जंगल खनिज या जलीयसंपदा पर सामुदायिक अधिकारों की सुरक्षा के लिए संघर्ष कर रहे हैं बल्कि वर्षों से नये, सही अर्थों में लोकतांत्रिक ‘विकास योजना अधिनियम’ का प्रस्ताव भी रख रहे हैं। सरकार को समझना होगा की ढांचागत विकास एवं शहरीकरण की नींव लाखों लोगों की कब्रों पर नहीं रखी जा सकती ।
सर्वदलीय संसदीय समिति की सिफारिशों के विपरीत ग्रामीण विकास मंत्रालय द्वारा बिल में किये गये कुछ महत्वपूर्ण परिवर्तन जो की संघर्षों की मांगों के बिलकुल विपरीत है, निम्न हैं –
- सरकार निजी कंपनियों और निजी – सरकारी साझेदारी की परियोजनाओं के लिए भूमि अधिग्रहण करेगी | हम मानते हैं की यह बिलकुल ही गैरकानूनी होगा और सरकार को निजी कंपनियों के मुनाफे के लिए दलाली करने की जरूरत नहीं है | देश की बहुमूल्य सम्पदा जिस पर करोड़ो लोगों की जीविका आधारित है उसे सरकार चंद लोगों के मुनाफे के लिए जनता का हित बोल कर नहीं दे सकती |
- केवल बहुफसलीय भूमि को ही अधिग्रहण से बाहर रखा जा सकता है । देश का ७५% भूमि बारिश आश्रित और एक फसली है जो की छोटे किसानों, दलितों, आदिवासिओं के हाथ में हैं, इसलिए जरूरी है की उनकी जीविका की रक्षा की जाए | हम मानते हैं खाद्य सुरक्षा के लिए यह भी जरूरी है की भूमि सुरक्षा कानून, वन सुरक्षा कानून की तर्ज पर लाया जाए |
- मंत्रालय 16 अधिनियमों में से 13 को बाहर करना चाहता है जिसमें उद्योग विकास अधिनियम, भूमि अधिग्रहण (खदान) अधिनियम, नेशनल हाईवे अधिनियम एवं अन्य शामिल हैं। इसका मतलब है कि 90% भूमिअधिग्रहण जिन कानूनों से होता है वह जारी रहेगा, यूंही उजड़ते रहेंगे तथा यह अन्याय जारी रहेगा और इसमें कोई परिवर्तन नहीं आएगा।
- यदि परियोजना अधिग्रहित भूमि का उपयोग नही करती तो किसानों के बजाय इसे राज्य भूमि बैंक को को दे दिया जाये । हम मानते हैं की इस मौके का उपयोग भूमि सुधार के लिए हो और इसका उचित बँटवारा किसानों और भूमिहीनों के बीच हो |
- ग्राम सभा और बस्ती सभा की पूरी भूमिका को ही नाकारा जा रहा है और सरकारी बाबुओं की तानाशाही जारी रहेगी | हम मानते हैं की अगर मामला जन विकास का है तो जनता तय करेगी की जन विकास कैसा हो और कौन करेगा |
- कानून के प्रावधान पूर्व विस्थापित लोगों के हकों के लिए लागू नहीं होगा | देश में आज भी तकरीबन ६-८ करोड़ लोग हैं जिनका सही पुनर्वास नहीं हुआ है | अगर सरकार पहली बार आज़ादी के ६५ सालों के बाद एक कानून ला रही है तो फिर उनके साथ न्याय क्यों नहीं, इसलिए जरूरी है की राष्ट्रीय स्तर पर एक राष्ट्रीय पुनर्वास एवं पुनर्स्थापन आयोग बनाया जाए
अभी तक किसी भी सरकारी बिल में शहरी बेदखली का जिक्र तक नही है…………….
इस बिल में भी स्थायी समिति एंव ग्रामीण विकास मंत्रालय, दोनों की टिप्पणियों में शहरी क्षेत्र की स्थिति को लगभग पूरी तरह छोड़ दिया गया है, शहरों में ज्यादातर अधिग्रहण नहीं है, किन्तु बेदखली है, क्रूर एवं अन्यायपूर्ण, उच्च लोगों की रीयल इस्टेट से लेकर ढांचागत विकास किया जा रहा है किन्तु प्रभावितों को जीवन एवं आजीविका तथा आश्रय के अधिकार दिये बिना। हर बड़े-छोटे शहरों से मेहनतकश मजदूरों की बस्तियों को उजाड़ा जा रहा है। शहरी भूमि सीमा कानून खत्म कर दिया गया है या उसे नज़रंदाज़ किया जा रहा है जिससे अमीरों द्वारा शहरी भूमि खरीद की कोई सीमा नही है। दूसरी तरफ शहरों में निर्माण मजदूरों, कारीगर व अन्य कामगार तबको के लिये आवास का कोई भी अधिकार नही है। इसलिए जरूरी है की एक अलग अधिनियम बनाया जाए ताकि लाखों शहरी लोगों एवं शहरी भूमि को अनुचित प्रयोग से बचाया जा सके। अतः बिल का जो प्रारूप अभी है उसे ‘‘ग्रामीण बिल’’ ही कहा जाना चाहिये।
इसलिये एक बार फिर हम सब जनआन्दोलनों के लोग, देशभर से 21-23 अगस्त को दिल्ली में विशाल जनमोर्चे में शामिल होंगे और उसी दिन देश के हरेक आंदोलन के क्षेत्रों और ग्राम सभाओं में कार्यक्रम करेंगे और सरकार को चेतावनी देंगे की जन विरोधी कानून के खिलाफ हमारा संघर्ष अटूट है और देश की प्राकृतिक संसाधनों का अधिग्रहण निजी कंपनियों के मुनाफे के लिए हरगिज़ नहीं होने देंगे |
संसद के इस सत्र में जन विरोधी कानून को पास करने का हम विरोध करते हैं |
सरकार को पहले आज़ादी के बाद से अभी तक अधिग्रहित जमीनों का उपयोग, उससे विस्थापित लोगों का पुनर्वास और अधूरे भूमि सुधार का पूरा ब्यौरा एक श्वेतपत्र में देना होगा तभी जाकर किसी भी नयी जमीन के कृषि के अलावे उपयोग और जन परियोजनों के लिए हो सकती है |
देश में भूमि संघर्ष में शहीद हुए बलिदानियों का लहू यूँही व्यर्थ नहीं जा सकता, उनके परिजन शामिल होंगे पूरे देश भर के कार्यकर्मों में और सरकार से मांगेंगे हिसाब । हमारे प्राकृतिक संसाधनों की लूट यूँही अब और ज़ारी नहीं रह सकती |
पहले पुराना हिसाब साफ़ करो, फिर नए की बात करो !
आइये, जुडिये जंतर-मंतर पर, संसद के सामने, अपने अपने खेत खलिहान, गांव, जिले, शहर और संघर्ष क्षेत्रों में और सरकार को यह बता दें की हम विकास के नाम पर विस्थापन होने नहीं देंगे और कोई भी विनाशकारी और पूंजीपतियों के पक्ष का कानून पास होने नहीं देंगे |
शामिल होइए अपने-अपने बैनर–झण्डे–नारे–आंदोलनो की फोटो प्रर्दशर्नी–फिल्मों के साथ……….. भूमि संघर्ष में बलिदानियों के फोटो व साहित्य को लेकर पूरे जोश के साथ………..
………………………………… शासक और पूंजीपति वर्ग जान ले कि भूमि स्वतंत्रता के लिये कुबार्नी और जनसंघर्ष ज़ारी है और ज़ारी रहेगा ।
कार्यक्रम के लिये जरुरत हैः-
विभिन्न कामों हेतु कार्यकर्ता, भोजन, कनात, कार्यालय खर्च आदि।
विस्तृत व लगातार जानकारी के लिये कृप्या संपर्क में रहे।
हम लड़गें साथी, अपनी आजादी के लिए, अपने हक़ के लिए !
“संघर्ष” के साथी
मेधा पाटकर- नर्मदा बचाओं आंदोलन व जनआन्दोलनो का राष्ट्रीय समंवय (एनएपीएम); अशोक चौधरी, मुन्नीलाल – राष्ट्रीय वनजन श्रमजीवी मंच (NFFPFW); प्रफुल्ल सामंत्रा – लोक शक्ति अभियान, एनएपीएम, ओडिसा; रोमा, शांता भटाचार्य, कैमूर क्षेत्र महिला मजदूर किसान संघर्ष समिति, उप्र – NFFPFW; गौतम बंधोपाध्याय – नदी घाटी मोर्चा, एनएपीएम, छत्तीसगढ़; गुमान सिंह – हिम नीति अभियान, हिमाचल प्रदेश; उल्का महाजन, सुनीती एस आर, प्रसाद बागवे – सेज विरोधी मंच और एनएपीएम, महाराष्ट्र; डा0 सुनीलम्, एड0 अराधना भार्गव – किसान संघर्ष समिति, एनएपीएम, मप्र; गेबरियेला डी, गीता रामकृष्णन – पेरिनियम इयक्कम् और एनएपीएम, तमिलनाडु; शक्तिमान घोष – राष्ट्रीय हाकर फैडरेशन, एनएपीएम; भूपेन्द्र रावत, राजेन्द्र रवि, अनीता कपूर – जनसंघर्ष वाहिनी और एनएपीम, दिल्ली; अखिल गोगाई – कृषक मुक्ति संग्राम समिति, एनएपीएम, आसाम; अरुंधती धुरु, संदीप पाण्डेय – एनएपीएम, उप्र; सिस्टर सीलिया – डोमेस्टिक वर्कर यूनियन, एनएपीएम, कर्नाटक; सुमीत बंजाले, माधुरी शिवकर, सिंप्रीत सिंह – घर बचाओ, घर बनाओ आंदोलन, एनएपीएम, मुंबई; माता दयाल – बिरसा मुंडा भू अधिकार मंच, मप्र (NFFPFW); डा0 रुपेश वर्मा – किसान संघर्ष समिति, एनएपीएम, उप्र; मनीष गुप्ता – जन कल्याण उपभोक्ता समिति, एनएपीएम, उप्र; विमलभाई – माटू जनसंगठन, एनएपीएम, उत्तराखंड; बिलास भोंगाडे – गोसी खुर्द प्रकल्प ग्रस्त संघर्ष समिति, एनएपीएम, महाराष्ट्र; रामाश्रय सिंह – घटवार आदिवासी महासभा, एनएपीएम, झारखण्ड; आनंद मजगांवकर, पर्यावरण सुरक्षा समिति, एनएपीएम, गुजरात; रजनीश, रामचंद्र राणा, कदम देवी, थरू आदिवासी एवं तारे क्षेत्र महिला मजदूर किसान मंच, उप्र | ————————————————————————————————————————
विस्तृत जानकारी के लिये संपर्कः- संघर्ष, C/O, NAPM, 6/6 जंगपुरा बी, नई दिल्ली – 110014 शीला : 9212587159 / 9818411417, संजीव – 99958797409, श्वेता-9911528696 action2007@gmail.com, napmindia@gmail.com
JAN MORCHA IN OPPOSITION TO THE NEW LAND ACQUISITION BILL
Our Country is not for Sale !
In opposition to the New Land Acquisition Bill
For Land Rights and Consent of Gram Sabha in Development Planning
Janmorcha @ Jantar Mantar, New Delhi | 21-22-23 August
Various Programmes, Marches, Demonstrations Across the Country too …
Comrades, Zindabad!
For many years now, the government has been trying to bring in a bill on land acquisition and resettlement and rehabilitation. The country’s farmers, fishermen, landless workers, Dalits, tribals, rural folks and urban poor have been consistently giving their feedback and suggestions regarding this and engaged the government in negotiation on its provisions. The struggles for protection of natural resources continue in every corner of the country. No part of the country has been untouched by people’s struggle including Narmada, Tehri, Damodar, Koel-karo, Singur, Nandigram, Sonebhadra, Chhindwara, Lakhimpur, Bhavnagar, Mundra, Kashipur, Raigarh, Srikakulam, Waang Marathwadi, Fatehabad, Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, mining areas of Central India, Mumbai, Patna, Delhi, Bangalore and other urban settlements. The list of martyrs protecting their own land from the government is steadily increasing and the number of our friends in jail is also on the rise. Thanks to mass struggles, the government and corporate interests have not been successful in their nefarious intentions.
As a result of mass struggles, land acquisition has now become a political issue. What we need now is a law that emerges out of political consensus, not a biased pro-capitalist law with a superficial name change that only increases land acquisition. The Ministry of Rural Development has introduced a combined bill and named it “Right to Fair Compensation, Resettlement, Rehabilitation and Transparent Land Acquisition Bill, 2012”. Trying to reflect the commitment of the government, the Bill claims to provide a legal guarantee to project affected people and ensure transparency in the land acquisition process. However; these claims are nothing but empty !
Showing complete disdain the Ministry of Rural Development has rejected the suggestions of people’s movements and recommendations of the all party Parliamentary Standing Committee. Our struggles are not only for protecting land, water, forests and minerals but over the years been proposing a truly democratic Development Planning / Land Protection Act. The government will have to understand that infrastructural development and the foundation of urbanization cannot be laid on the graves of citizens of this country.
We reject the proposals of the Ministry of Rural Development which are in complete contrast with the recommendations of the Parliamentary Standing Committee, such as :
- Government will acquire land for private projects and for PPP. We believe government must not have any such role, it can’t transfer the most valuable livelihood resources such as land, water to the profiteering bodies in the garb of ‘public interest’ and ‘public purpose’ at the cost of the livelihood of the nature based sections and working class section of society.
- Only multiple crop agricultural land will not be acquired. Since, 75% of the agricultural land in India is rain fed and most of it single cropped, mostly held by Dalits, Adivasis and marginal farms and so it t is essential to protect them and all farm land for food security, which comes not from PDS but self sufficient agriculture.
- The provisions of new act will not apply to 13 out of 16 central Acts including Industrial Development Act, Land Acquisition (Mines) Act, National Highways Act. This means that the forcible land acquisitions and injustices will continue unabated.
- If the acquired land is not used for five years then it will go to State Land Bank. Concept of land banks are illegal and land unutilised must go back to owners or distributed among landless people.
- In key decision making bodies and processes, participation and consent of Gram / Basti Sabha is not recognised by the Ministry. We demand that consent and direct involvement of majority of the Gram Sabhas must be there in every project, including public projects for public purpose.
- The provisions of Act will not apply retrospectively which means nearly 6-8 crore people who have not received proper R&R in various cases of displacement will not get justice. We demand that a National R &R Commission be formed to look in to all unsettled claims of R&R since independence.
Unfortunately, Once again the Bill has no provisions for the Urban Evictions and Displacements …
Neither the Ministry nor the Standing Committee R eport has actual looked at the displacement in urban spaces. Most of these are not directly land acquisitions but they are cases of forceful evictions in the name of urban infrastructure development and beautification. We have witnessed large scale demolitions and evictions without any resettlement and rehabilitation in metros and smaller cities as well. In the name of real estate large tracts of land occupied by urban working class is being acquired, negating all provisions of the urban land ceiling act. We demand that let there be separate act which addresses the specifics of the urban conditions and ensure protection of land rights in the urban areas. Since, this Bill fails to deal with the urban situation, let this be called a ‘Rural Bill’ only.
So once again struggling mass movements from across the country will join in the Janmorcha in New Delhi from August 21 to 23. Programs will be conducted by the Gram Sabhas and movements on those very days in respective areas warning the government against bringing anti-people laws and our resolve to protect the country’s natural resources from acquisition for private profit. The government must bring out a white paper with information of usage of all the land acquired since Independence, people displaced as a result, rehabilitation efforts and details of incomplete land reform and only then there can be any discussion on the land use changes even for public purpose. We won’t let the sacrifices of those martyred protecting land, water and forests in various struggles go waste, their families will be part of the country wide events and we will hold the government accountable.
Let us come together at Jantar Mantar, in front of the Parliament; and in our farms, villages, districts, cities and struggle areas and tell the government that we will not allow displacement in the name of development and will not allow the legislation of any destructive or pro-capitalist laws in our name. Do join in force with your banners, flags, slogans, struggle photographs, films, and literature. Let us show the capitalists and ruling classes that sacrifices for community control over natural resources will continue whenever they will attempt forcible acquisition !
We will fight for our freedom, for our community rights!
Required for the program: Volunteers for different tasks and support for food, tent, organising, etc. Please stay in touch for more information.
In solidarity, SANGHARSH members
Medha Patkar – Narmada Bachao Andolan and the National Alliance of People’s Movements (NAPM); Ashok Choudhary, Munnilal – National Forum of Forest people and Forest Workers (NFFPFW); Prafulla Samantara – Lok Shakti Abhiyan, NAPM, Odisha; Roma, Shanta Bhattacharys, Kaimur Kshetra Mahila Mazdoor Kisan Sangharsh Samiti, UP – NFFPFW; Gautam Bandopadhyay – Nadi Ghati Morcha, NAPM, Chhattisgarh; Guman Singh – Him Neeti Abhiyan, HP; Ulka Mahajan, Suniti SR, Prasad Bagwe – SEZ Virodhi Manch and NAPM, Maharashtra; Dr.Sunilam, Aradhna Bhargava – Kisan Sangharsh Samiti, NAPM, MP; Gabriel Dietrich, Geetha Ramakrishnan – Unorganised Sector Workers Federation, NAPM, TN; Shaktiman Ghosh – National Hawker Federation, NAPM; Bhupendra Rawat, Rajendra Ravi, Anita Kapoor – Jan Sangharsh Vahini and NAPM, Delhi; Akhil Gogoi – Krishak Mukti Sangram Samiti, NAPM, Assam; Arundhati Dhuru, Sandeep Pandey – NAPM, UP; Sister Celia – Domestic Workers Union, NAPM, Karnataka; Sumit Banjale, Madhuri Shivkar, Simpreet Singh – Ghar Bachao, Ghar Banao Andolan, NAPM, Mumbai; Mata Dayal – Birsa Munda Land Rights Forum and NFFPFW, MP; Dr.Rupesh Verma – Kisan Sangharsh Samiti, NAPM, UP; Manish Gupta – Jan Kalyan Upbhokta Samiti, NAPM, UP; Vimal Bhai – Matu Jan sangathan, NAPM, Uttarakhand; Vilas Bhongade – Gosikhurd Prakalpgrast Sangharsh Samiti, NAPM, Maharashtra; Ramashray Singh – Ghatwar Adivasi Mahasabha, Jharkhand; Anand Mazhgaonkar, Paryavaran Suraksh Samiti, NAPM Gujarat; Rajneesh, Ramchander Rana, Kadma Devi, Tharu, Aadivasi, evam Tarai Kshetra Mahila Mazdoor Kisan Manch, UP, NFFPFW
For more details contact : – Sangharsh, C/O, NAPM 6/6 Jangpura B, New Delhi – 110014
Seela – 9212587159/9818411417, Sanjeev – 99958797409, Shweta – 9911528696
email : action2007@gmail.com, napmindia@gmail.com
KEY DEMANDS OF SANGARSH
कंपनियों की ज़ागीर नहीं, ये देश हमारा है !
जंतर मंतर, दिल्ली में संघर्ष का जनमोर्चा
हमारी मांगे और प्रस्ताव
- यूपीए सरकार संसदीय स्थायी समिति की मांगो को माने, औपनिवेशिक काला भूमि अधिग्रहण कानून और कृषि विरोधी विशेष आर्थिक क्षेत्र कानून 2005 रद्द हो। राष्ट्रीय सलाहकार परिषद् २००६ द्वारा पारित विकास नीति मसौदे को बदले हुए राजनैतिक माहौल और जन संघर्षों के द्वारा दिए गए सुझावों के मद्देनजर सार्वजनिक चर्चा में लाया जाये और किसी भी विधि-निर्माण का व्यापक आधार माना जाये।
- इस कार्य को पूरा करने के लिए हम मांग करते हैं की एक संयुक्त संसदीय समिति का गठन हो। संयुक्त संसदीय समिति इसलिए भी जरुरी है क्योंकि चूँकि ये दोनो विधेयक विभिन्न मंत्रालयों से जुड़े हैं । विशेषकर ग्रामीण विकास, शहरी विकास, पर्यावरण एंव वन, उद्योग व वाणिज्य, आदिवासी संबंध, सामाजिक न्याय व सहकारिता, पंचायती राज और कृषि मंत्रालय। यह भी जरूरी है की संसदीय समिति विशेष रुप से परियोजना प्रभावित विस्थापित क्षेत्रो के संगठनों के साथ सार्वजनिक विचार-विमर्श का आयोजन करे |
- आज जरूरत एक व्यापक राष्ट्रीय विकास, विस्थापनहीन और न्यायपूर्ण पुनर्वास कानून की है । इन सबको संविधान की धारा 243, वन अधिकार कानून 2006, पेसा कानून 1996 और लैंड सीलिंग एक्ट के आधार पर भू-अधिकारों की सुरक्षा, कमतर विस्थापन के सिद्धांत, न्यायपूर्ण पुनर्वास और विकास नियोजन में सही भागीदारी के तहत देखा जाये।
- यह भी जरूरी है की जब तक कानून बनाये जाने की प्रक्रिया जारी है तब तक सभी भूमि अधिग्रहण की प्रक्रियाएं बंद की जाए |
- स्वतंत्रता से अभी तक हुये सभी भूमि अधिग्रहणों, विस्थापन के कारणों, कितना पुनर्वास पूरा हुआ इन सब पर एक श्वेत पत्र जारी हो । श्वेत पत्र में भूमि के इस्तेमाल, इस्तेमाल की जा चुकि भूमि और ‘‘सार्वजनिक हित’’ के लिए अधिग्रहित कि गई भूमि जो अभी तक बिमार व गैर कार्यरत उद्योगो या अन्य ढांचागत परियोजनाओं के लिए कब्जा करके रखी गई है आदि का भी सार्वजनिक रुप से जिक्र होना चाहिये।
- भारत सरकार व सभी राज्य सरकारे निगमों, कंपनियों और अन्यों के साथ किये गये मैमोरेन्डम ऑफ अंडरस्टैंडिंग सार्वजनिक करे। जिस पर खासकर परियोजना प्रभावितों के साथ सार्वजनिक विचार-विमर्श हो।
- वर्तमान विभिन्न कानूनों को प्रभावी रुप में लागू किया जाये जिसमें वनअधिकार कानून 2006, पेसा कानून 1996, जमीऩदारी उन्मूलन कानून, भूमि सीमा कानून, तटीय नियामक क्षेत्र अधिसूचना 1991।
संघर्ष, C/O, NAPM, 6/6 जंगपुरा बी, नई दिल्ली – 110014.
Contact : 9818905316 | action2007@gmail.com
sangharshblog 
SANGARSH-A COMMENTARY ON THE LAND ACQUISITION BILL, 2012
A Paradigm Shift in Development Planning and Land Reforms is Need of the Hour Not Further Acquisition and Cash Compensation
Commentary on Right to Fair Compensation, Resettlement, Rehabilitation and Transparency in Land Acquisition Bill, 2012
Amidst all the controversies and conflicts related to Lokpal and Jan Lokpal politics, a very major enactment (in Bill form) is soon to be tabled before the Cabinet for approval and there after tabled in the Monsoon session of the parliament. While this has been in the offing for last many years, people’s movements across the country from farmers to fishworkers, landless workers to Dalits, adivasis as well as urban poor, are closely watching and reacting or responding to every move on the issue: Land Acquisition and Rehabilitation. The much awaited new “Land Acquisition, Resettlement and Rehabilitation Bill” has now been renamed “Right to Fair Compensation, Resettlement, Rehabilitation and Transparency in Land Acquisition Bill, 2012 with a claim to better reflect Government’s Commitment towards securing a legal guarantee for the rights of project affected, and ensuring greater transparency in the land acquisition process. It is also claimed that the Bill will ensure, in concert with local institutions of self-government and Gram Sabhas established under the Constitution, a humane, participative, informed, consultative and transparent process for land acquisition.
The Bill has no doubt sought comments and suggestions through the website but limited only till 30 days, as no regional or state consultations were held by Ministry for Rural Development as was strongly suggested by NAPM, NFFPFW and many other organisations across the country. This is a kind of disrespect shown to a large number of organisations and millions of people engaged not only in conflict over the issues of land, water, forest, minerals or aquatic wealth but also proposing a new, truly democratic, just and sustainable ‘Development Planning Act’ as an alternative since years.
Now that the all party Parliamentary Standing Committee’s report (on Rural Development) on the Bill is out and the Ministry of Rural Development has also made its views / reactions clear and open, we, the people’s movements, have taken serious cognizance of the fact that the strong position taken by the Standing Committee on certain critical issues are either diluted or rejected by the Ministry of Rural Development, which is shocking. The Ministry that is supposed to protect the rights and powers of the rural communities has not accepted some of the standing committee recommendations, towards that end, which are presented with our comments, herewith:
Food Security and Agricultural Land Acquisition
1. No forcible acquisition of agricultural land, for non-agricultural purpose including single crop and multi crop land.
• Ministry says only multiple crop land can be excluded.
How can the in-between farms that may be unirrigated, rain fed, single crop be left out, we ask. India has 75% of the agricultural land as rain fed and most of it single cropped. Such land is mostly held by Dalits, Adivasis and marginal farms. Protecting them and all farm land for food security, which comes not from PDS but self sufficient agriculture, is a must!
Acquisition for Private and PPP Projects
2. No forcible acquisition for private projects, or for PPP, which can not to be categorized as public purpose projects.
• Ministry has rejected this and justified this with a provision that consent of 80% of project affected People will be sought before acquisition for any private projects
In this era of neo-liberal economic reforms, private projects with corporate investment and interests are taking a much larger toll of land and other rich natural resources as also uprooting by killing communities which are generations old. This must come to an end and the same can happen only with stopping the State playing a role of facilitator and land dealer. At the cost of the livelihood of the nature based sections and working class section of society, the state can’t transfer the most valuable livelihood resources such as land, water to the profiteering bodies in the garb of ‘public interest’ and ‘public purpose’.
Bringing 16 Central Acts Under Purview of this Bill
3. The standing committee has recommended that all 16 central acts should be brought under the purview of the new act, to make all equal before law (Article 14 of the Constitution).
• Ministry of Rural Development wants to exclude 13 out of 16 Acts including Industrial Development Act, Land Acquisition (Mines) Act, National Highways Act and others from the purview of the new act. This means that 90% of the land acquired as on today will continue with injustice and force used, with no change at all.
The standing committee recommendations must be upheld to end brutal unjust acquisition for all projects.
Role and Consent of Gram and Basti Sabha
4. The Committee asks that all studies – SIA, EIA, expert committee appraisal be done in consultation with the gram sabhas and the corresponding reports be made available to the gram sabhas.
• Ministry emphasises that 80% consent of PAFs provision is there in case of acquisition for PPP and private sector projects.
Consent and direct involvement of majority of the Gram Sabhas must be there in each and every project, including public projects for public purpose. 80% consent of the project affected population for the private projects alone is not sufficient. Also, why should the linear projects be left out? If it’s consent of 80% affected, there are to be a number of manipulations that people will have to face. Experiences of 70% consent in Slum Rehabilitation Scheme in Mumbai are quite telling.
Return of Unutilised Land to farmers and Land Bank
5. The Committee recommended that the land, if not used till 5 years, should be returned after 5 years from the date of possession to the land owners.
• Ministry accepts the reduced five years time period but opposes its return to the landowner and suggests it to go to State Land Bank.
The ownership over the land is of those who till it and if not used and unutilized then it must be returned to the owners or distributed amongst the project affected people. We oppose any such feature which will promote land bank, since it has promoted large scale acquisition in the past and later illegally transferred the same land to corporations for real estate and other purposes.
Retrospective Application of the Law
6. On the question of retrospective application of the R&R provisions Committee has suggested to Ministry to re-examine the issue and incorporate necessary provisions
• Ministry has not accepted it and refused to do so.
It needs to be noted that nearly 100 million people have been displaced since independence and with a dismal 17-20 percent rate of resettlement and rehabilitation we had suggested that not only the retrospective application of the provisions of the new act but a National Resettlement and Rehabilitation Commission be established to deal with the claims of the projected affected people from various projects.
Resettlement and Rehabilitation Benefits
In terms of the resettlement and rehabilitation benefits Committee apart from suggesting some cosmetic changes have accepted the provisions of the Bill, we think this is unfortunate since provisions don’t stand up to livelihood based R&R, it merely promotes the principle of cash compensation. It will be a retrogressive step since it negates the land and employment based R&R as mandated in the Narmada Water Dispute Tribunal Award, and various other projects. The proposed provisions of compensating employment with money and high rates for land acquired will only lead to speculative land market and will destroy the fragile economy of the rural hinterland which will lead to further urban migration.
Urban Eviction
The Bill and the comments by both, Standing Committee as well as MoRD almost totally excludes and have unaddressed the situation in the urban areas, where there is no land acquisition, but eviction, brutal and unjust, for any and every elitist real estate development to infrastructure without guaranteeing right to shelter, right to life and livelihood. The only provision is to compensate with 20% of developed land for land owning families in urbanisation projects, which is not with regard to the cases where land belongs to the government or private entities but people are evicted. We demand a separate section or a separate act for the millions of the urban persons and urban land from getting misappropriated. The Bill with the presently proposed content need to be called only “Rural Bill”.
The rapacious use of Land Acquisition Act 1894 by the government to secure land for ‘development’ projects has caused over 100 million people to be displaced from their land, livelihoods and shelters. The country is dotted with communities resisting State sponsored land grab which resonate the demand for a just law to ensure that there is no forced acquisition of land and resources, including minerals and ground water. The government must respond to the voices from movements across places such as Narmada, Koel Karo, Singur, Nandigram, Sonbhadra, Chindwara, Bhavnagarm, Kalinga Nagar, Kashipur, Raigarh, Srikakulam and mining areas in central India with genuine efforts to address the longstanding crisis concerning land Acquisition and resettlement & rehabilitation.
If the UPA government is serious about addressing the conflicts over the land and other natural resources then it must listen to the voices of those struggling or else it will only aggravate these conflicts all across the country. The need of growth, infrastructure and urbanisation can’t be fulfilled on the graveyard of millions. A pro-people Development Planning Bill with complete participation of the Gram Sabha will go a long way in stopping the massive corporate corruption and lead to decentralization of power having an overall impact on the politics of the country.
For more details contact : – Sangharsh, C/O, NAPM 6/6 Jangpura B, New Delhi – 110014
Madhuresh 9818905316, Shweta – 9911528696
email : action2007@gmail.com, napmindia@gmail.com