land acquisition simplification isn’t anti-farmer
The Opposition led by the Congress has been irresponsible in blocking reform measures of the Union Government, using its superior numbers in the Rajya Sabha to stall key changes that can impact the lives of millions of Indians for the better. Given the manner in which it forced the Government on Tuesday to refer the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2015, to a select committee, it is clear that the Opposition will not allow the passage of the crucial right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement (Amendment) Bill, 2015, in the Rajya Sabha. Although the lok Sabha has adopted the Bill on the numerical strength of the Bharatiya Janata Party-led NDA, the Congress and some other opposition parties walked out during the process.
The Congress's demand is that the Bill must have the exact same language that was there in the Act which had been passed during its regime. But that's where the problem lies. Certain provisions in the UPA's legislation, especially those related to securing consent of landowners and social impact assessment, had made it virtually impossible for the Government to acquire land — even for national security, defence and social infrastructure projects. Surely, there is no point in having a law that does not facilitate the purpose it is mandated to. The Narendra Modi-led Government, therefore, rightly, made changes to that Act, promulgated an ordinance and now brought a Bill to replace the ordinance. Most right-thinking and bipartisan commentators agree that the changes the Government had brought in were welcome, because they took care of the interests of the farmers whose land would be acquired, and also eased the process of acquisition.
Still, given the concerns that the Opposition (and some allies of the Bharatiya Janata Party) expressed, the Government stooped to conquer by bringing in nine amendments and adding two clauses to the Bill. ‘Social infrastructure' has been removed from the list that exempted projects from the consent clause and social impact assessment; acquisition on either side of industrial corridors has been limited to one kilometre of the designated project (railways, road etc); and a district-level grievance redressal system conducted by a quasi-judicial rehabilitation authority would be set up, among other things. However, the Government has, thankfully so far, not succumbed to demands on restoring the consent clause or the social impact assessment study in their entirety.
The Congress hopes to send the message that it is contesting the land acquisition Bill on behalf of the farmers and in their interests. The fact is that the farmers want better irrigation facilities — for which land is required — and also industrial development — land has to be acquired for that as well. In fact, one of the changes the Government has proposed is for providing compulsory employment to one member of the family affected by the acquisition. There are also farmers who are looking to monetise their holdings, and the compensation they are being offered is not piffle. The Opposition is spreading an impression that the Government is out to fleece the farmers and extend benefits to the corporate sector through the land Bill. Nothing can be more untrue.