Lok Sabha Question No. 599 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-02-06
Subject: Rehabilitation of Tribals
Ministry: TRIBAL AFFAIRS
Asked by: NALIN KUMAR KATEEL, K. GOPAL, DODDAALAHALLI KEMPEGOWDA SURESH, Y. S. AVINASH REDDY, SUKENDER REDDY GUTHA, B.N. CHANDRAPPA

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA (MINISTRY OF TRIBAL AFFAIRS)

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.599

TO BE ANSWERED ON 06.02.2017

## REHABILITATION OF TRIBALS

## 599. SHRI NALIN KUMAR KATEEL:

DR. K. GOPAL:

SHRI D.K. SURESH:

SHRI Y.S. AVINASH REDDY:

SHRI GUTHA SUKENDER REDDY:

SHRI B.N. CHANDRAPPA:

Will the Minister of TRIBAL AFFAIRS be pleased to state:-

- (a)  the  total  number  of  tribals  affected/  displaced  due  to  various  developmental  projects especially National Water Projects in the country during the last three years and the current year, State/UT-wise;
- (b)    the  number  of  complaints  received  by  the  Government  against  the  scheme  of resettlement and rehabilitation of such displaced tribals including tribals who are displaced from  Devamacchi  Reserve  Forest,  Karnataka  and  the  action  taken  by  the  Government thereon during the said period, State/UT-wise; and
- (c)   the other steps taken/being taken by the Government for better and proper rehabilitation/resettlement of such displaced tribals across the country and the extent of success therefrom?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF TRIBAL AFFAIRS (SHRI JASWANTSINH BHABHOR)

- (a) & (b):  In  so  far  as  land  related  issues  are  concerned,  the  Ministry  of  Rural Development, Department of Land Resources (DoLR), is the nodal Ministry at the Centre, which  plays  a  monitoring  role  in  the  field  of  rehabilitation  and  resettlement  of  displaced people.    Land  and  its  management  fall  under  the  exclusive  legislative  and  administrative jurisdiction of states as provided under the Constitution of India (Seventh Schedule - List II (State  List)  -  Entry  No.  (18).  Therefore,  State  wise  details  are  not  maintained  centrally. DoLR  is  responsible  for  collecting  data  regarding  land  acquisition  and  displacement covering ST families also.  Further, the Ministry of Water Resources, River Development and  Ganga  Rejuvenation  is  the  nodal  Ministry  for  implementing  irrigation  and  Water Resources  Projects  in  the  country.    National  Monitoring  Committee  Constituted  under Sec.48 of 'Right to fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and  Resettlement  (RFCTLARR)  Act,2013'  has  taken  up  the  work  of  compilation  of information regarding  and  acquisition  and  displacement.

As per information received from the State Government of Karnataka, there are no cases in which  tribals  are  affected  or  displaced  from  forest  areas  as  a  result  of  any  developmental projects or National Water Projects in Kodagu Circle, Madikeri. There are no cases in which tribal  families  have  been  displaced  from  Devamacchi  Reserve  forest  of  Virajpet  Forest Division. The forest Department has evicted the tribes who tried to encroach the forest land afresh in Devamacchi Reserve Forest.  This was in accordance with the existing forest laws that govern the land. The District Administration has identified sites to settle the evicted tribal families and all basic amenities have been provided to them by constituting a District Level Committee under the Chairmanship of Deputy Commissioner, Kodagu.

(c)  : To  ensure  adequate  compensation  and  timely  and  proper  rehabilitation  of  such displaced tribal people across the country, the Government has made special provisions in the 'Right  to  Fair  Compensation  and  Transparency  in  Land  Acquisition,  Rehabilitation  and Resettlement (RFCTLARR) Act 2013'.  As per the Act, as far as possible, no land is to be acquired in the scheduled area except as last resort.  In case acquisition or alienation of any land  in  the  Scheduled  Areas,  the  prior  consent  of  Gram  Sabha  or  the  Panchayat  or  the Autonomous  District  Councils,  at  the  appropriate  level  in  the  Scheduled  Area  in  the  Fifth Schedule to the Constitution, as the case may be, are required to be obtained, in all cases of land acquisition in  such areas,  including  acquisition  in  case  of  urgency.    The  Act  also  lays down  procedure  and  manner  of  rehabilitation  and  resettlement(R&R)  wherein  R&R  is  an integral  part  of  the  land  acquisition  plan  itself.  Chapter-V  and  VI  of  the  said  Act  contains detailed provision for R&R  awards  and  their implementation. National Monitoring Committee also reviews and monitors the implementation of R&R schemes and looks into issue related to displacement of people and timely payment of compensation.

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