The Cabinet also decided to introduce a new legislation on the line of new policy titled as National Policy on Rehabilitation and Resettlement, 2007 and ‘suitably’ amend the Land Acquisition Act, 1894,  Parliamentary Affairs Minister P R Das Munshi told newspersons.

In the wake of recent controversy over the displacement of farmers and agricultural labourers following acquisition of agricultural land to set up SEZs, the government while putting a hold on approval of fresh SEZ projects had committed to evolve a comprehensive rehabilitation policy.

“The new policy and the associated legislative measures aim at striking a balance between the need for land for developmental activities and, at the same time, protecting the interests of  the land owners, and others, such as the tenants, the landless, the agricultural and  non-agricultural labourers, artisans, and others whose livelihood depends on the land involved,” the Minister said.

The benefits under the new policy shall be available to all affected persons and families, whose land, property or livelihood is adversely affected by land acquisition or by involuntary displacement of a permanent native due to any other reason, such as natural calamities.

The policy, which replaces the one framed in 2003, will be applicable to all these cases irrespective of  the number of people involved.

“The policy of  the previous NDA government was disastrous as it did not take into account the interest of farmers,” Dasmunsi said.

BUDGETARY SUPPORT TO 12 CPSEs
New Delhi, DHNS: The Centre, on Thursday, decided to provide a budgetary support of Rs 63.20 crore to 12 Central Public Sector Enterprises (CPSEs) including three Karnataka-based units — Hindustan Machine Tools (HMT) Ltd, HMT (Watches) Ltd and Tunghbadra Steel Products Ltd — towards liquidating outstanding statutory dues, salary and wages for the period up to June 30 this year.

The decision to this effect was taken by the Union Cabinet at its meeting chaired by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Parliamentary Affairs Minister P R Dasmunshi told reporters after the Cabinet meeting.

The other remaining CPSEs are Andrew Yule and Co Ltd, Bharat Wagon Engineering Co Ltd, Hindustan Cables Ltd, HMT (Chinar Watches) Ltd, Hindustan Photo Films Ltd, Instrumentation Ltd, National Instruments Ltd, NEPA Ltd and Triveni Structurals Ltd.

The decision for budgetary support to 12 CPSEs will mitigate the hardships of the employees, thereby motivating them for better output, and prepare them to achieve the goal of revival and restructuring for the companies, Mr Dasmunshi said.