‘Govt responsible for poor condition of the evicted’

JAMSHEDPUR: The National Land Reforms Council (NLRC) has held mineral-rich states with tribal population, especially the Jharkhand government, largely responsible for displacement of landowners in the post-economic liberalization period.

Appealing to the states to ensure land and livelihood rights to the landowners, the NLRC has warned the state governments of serious repercussions if land is forcibly taken from its owners in favour of corporate bodies. “The feedback is very discouraging. Several state governments have been insincere in their approach towards effective implementation of rehabilitation and resettlement (R&R) policy. In fact, they favoured the corporate houses at the cost of poor landlosers,” said NLRC member Rajagopal P V.

As part of his country-wide Jan Satyagraha Samwad Yatra to interact with the displaced people, Rajagopal said condition of the landlosers, mostly dalits, nomadics and tribals was poor in Chhattisgarh, Odisha and Jharkhand. “These three are mineral-rich states, where all big names of the corporate world have invested money and have a strong influence on the respective state governments to acquire land without bothering much for the effective rehabilitation of landlosers,” said Rajagopala adding the NLRC constituted by the Prime Minister had been regularly apprising the Union rural development ministry, the nodal ministry of state of affairs.

He said about 45% of the populace including 20% Dalits, 11% nomadics, 8% tribals have largely been affected in the post-economic liberation period owing to rapid industrialization. The NLRC member, who is also the founder president of Ekta Prishad, has travelled about 25,000 km across nine states since October 2 last year as part of his yatra. He will conclude his yatra in Gwalior on October 2. Courtesy:TimesofIndia.