Madar Samad IWMI, Hyderabad Recovery and Restoration of Livelihoods of involuntarily displaced communities: Perspectives from Ujjani and Sardar Sarovar Projects

 Ramasamy Iyer: “Considerable hardships and injustice” to many displaced (The Hindu, April 13, 2006)  Saifuddin Soz Committee Report: “ due to defects in policy and prescribed procedures there are many failures in the rehabilitation effort, and is also not in accordance with the supreme court order ” (The Hindu, 17 April 2006)

Population displacement is an age old problem. But, its magnitude has increased substantially in recent to times. In India alone some million people have reportedly been displaced in the last 5 decades Statistics suggest under NRLP over half a million people will be displaced due to peninsular links alone

Key Question is why is that although the adverse effects of population displacement are in general well documented and the existence of several guidelines on resettlement management, it continues to be a difficult problem?

Hypothesis 1 Negative short term consequences of displacement are compensated by the longer term benefits generated from enhanced socio-economic opportunities created in the newly developed relocation site. Hypothesis 2 With proper counter risk policy and approaches, short term adverse effects can be largely arrested, and some even fully prevented, while others considerably mitigated, and thus people’s livelihood are resorted much earlier.

Method of study A comprehensive review of national policy and procedures for resettlement management in India. The review will focuses on expropriation procedures compensation principles relocation procedures and mechanisms for minimizing relocation stresses livelihood issues in resettlement policy Gender concerns and issues relating to rehabilitations of SC/ST. others

 Case studies of selected resettlement sites in India:  Upper Bhima Irrigation Project (Ujjani Dam) Maharastra  Rehabilitation and Resettlement started around  Long term impact of involuntary displacement and resettlement  Field work to commence on 20 May  Narmada Project (Gujarat) – 2 locations  A community that has been displaced and resettled during the last year period  A community that has been resettled more years ago Study Methods:

Case studies involved:  review of feasibility reports and project related documents,  Questionnaire surveys of sample displaced household  Review of past research findings relating to the selected case study sites. Method of study contd:

 A analysis of 500 litigations filed before the Maharashtra courts  Analysis of petitions submitted by displaced persons to the Grievances Redressal Agency for SSP (there are some 5000 petitions are pending before the agency)  proceedings reports of various commissions and committees and other relevant bodies  Submissions and document published by NGOs and activists taking the case on behalf of the displaced people will be reviewed

Effective rehabilitation and resettlement management: minimizing relocation stresses of oustees and improve, or at least restore, the their living standard to the level before displacement within the shortest possible time.

Field Survey Research Question: How has the socio-economic status of dam oustees in Ujjani and SSP changed over time? Are they better off than before displacement? Worse off than before displacement? No change?

Ujjani-Restoration of Livelihood Status of Displaced Population with Time

Cumulative Percentage of Household Better off than Original Village with Time.

SSP- Restoration of Livelihood Status of Displaced Population with Time

Comparison of Rehabilitation and Resettlement Policy in the three SSP states ArticleNWDT Award Madhya Pradesh GujaratMaharashtra Definition of Oustee a. Residing/trade at least for one year prior date of notification of Land acqt Same as NWDT Cultivating land for 3 yrs Same as NWDT FamilyDefinedSame as NWDT Land Allotment Minimum of 2 ha per family Same SC/ST needs specified Same as NWDT

Comparison of Rehabilitation and Resettlement Policy in the three SSP states ArticleNWDT Award Madhya Pradesh GujaratMaharashtra Encroacher oustees No land allotments Treated as landed oustees subject to two conditions. i. Encroachment must be on or before ii. Allotment of agricultural land will be 1 ha. or 2 h. b) Encroachers will be entitled to get compensation for land under submergence. i. Encroachers prior to 1 year of Notification - entitled for 2 ha. of land 2.compensation for the balance encroached land as exgratia payment 2 ha of land and compensation as ex-gratia payment for the balance land encroached upto 31/3/78.Later encroachers will be treated as landless and will get 1 ha. Agriculture land

Comparison of Rehabilitation and Resettlement Policy in the three SSP states ArticleNWDT Award Madhya Pradesh GujaratMaharashtra Landless oustees No land allotments No land cash payment to ag labor and SC/ST 2 ha of land to landless agric labor only 1 ha land if oustee moves with the other Rehab GrantRs 750 per familySmall & marginal farmers, agric labor and SC/ST Subsistence Allow NWDT award Yes Land Compensation As per Land Acq Act Same NWDT Rs. 10,000 per ha Rs per ha

Comparison of Rehabilitation and Resettlement Policy in the three SSP states ArticleNWDT Award Madhya Pradesh GujaratMaharashtra Rehab grant and subsidies RR Grant of Rs. 750 per family Grant-in-aid of Rs. 500 RR Grant- SC/ST, Laborers, Marginal each Rs Generous: Subsistence allowance. Grant to buy assets Housing grant Subsistence allowance & other benefits as specified by NWDT Other facilities Transport, Civic amenities Yes

Restoration of Livelihood by Year of Settlement

Compensation% HH received the full amount due to them77% HH reporting that compensation was adequate to replace the assets lost49% HH who have filed a suit (case) in courts4% Receipt of Compensation - SSP

Occupational Changes SSP: 33% - Household Head changed their primary occupation 78% - reported as current employment is more remunerative Ujjani: Substantial number change to non-remunerative employment.

CONCLUSIONS Preliminary Results indicate that SSP (Gujarat) the oustees are not adversely affected to the extent claimed Oustees do encounter initial relocation stress and there is a fall in standard of living A majority of oustees were able restore their livelihoods to the original level in 4-6 years. Data suggests that oustees in Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra are worse off than Gujarat. Field work underway.