Recently there was a lot of media attention over the proposed changes in the Land Acquisition Act. It was highlighted by the protest lead by Anna Hazare. Even though most of us know about the protest, but very few have a clear view on the actual points of contention in the bill. Lets take a look at what the actual bill was and what the BJP led government wanted to change in it. Please note that the government has already renewed the ordinance.
Tracing the roots of the original Land Acquisition Act:
The original Land Acquisition Act was passed in 1894 by the British Government. After the independence, the governments of both India and Pakistan adopted this act. Sine then the act has gone through a lot of amendments. This act was finally repealed and replaced by the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013.
This act of 2013, drafted and implemented by the UPA Govt gained popularity among the farmers and land holders. Many experts consider this act to be pro-farmer. It is this act of 2013 that the BJP led Govt is trying to amend. Interestingly a lot experts and NGOs have called the BJP's strategy to amend this act as Pro-Corporate instead of Pro-Farmers.
- Following are 3 points that make this ordinance against the poor farmers of our country:
- According to the act of 2013, the government can take land only if a certain majority of land holders agree to sell their lands. In the ordinance brought by the BJP, this clause has been deleted so now the government is not liable to wait for anyone to give his/her consent.
- In the UPA's bill there was a provision which allowed the farmers to appeal in courts if they were not properly compensated for their lands. The new ordinance takes away this too.
- Modi led government is also against the Social Impact Assessment and hence has deleted this provision too from the new draft bill.
0 comments:
Post a Comment