Dear friends,
This is to invite you to the Press Conf on the issues regarding
displacement, opposition to R&R and LAA Bills that will be held tomorrow in
Delhi. The PC is also to announce the national action that will be held on
the 23rd and 24th July in Delhi's Jantar Mantar. The press conference will
be addressed by *Medha Patkar, Ashok Chowdhury, Sandeep Pandey, Rajendra
Ravi, Bhupender Singh Rawat, Vimal Bhai, Guman Singh and other
representatives of the National Alliance of Peoples Movements (NAPM) and
other groups. Kindly do join in the Pres Conf if you can.*
*Venue: Press Club of India, Raisina Road, New Delhi*
*Date : Wednesday, 15th July 2009*
*Time: 3.00 p.m.*
kindly also find below the invite to the 23rd, 24th action in Delhi.
In solidarity,
Madhuresh Kumar & Sushant Panigrahi
Landlines: 011-26680883/914
On behalf of Delhi Solidarity Group
*PROPOSED LAND ACQUISITION (AMENDEMTN) and REHABILITATION & RESETTLEMENT
BILLS*
*WILL ONLY ACCELERATE DISPLACEMENT*
*NOT REHABILITATION*
*People's Movements to present their position before Public, Parliament and
Government*
*Dharna and peoples parliament at Jantar Mantar, New Delhi on 23-24 July,
2009*
The anger and protests of rural masses, Adivasis, even of those living in
the urban habitations, against *displacement* are getting ever louder.
Hundreds of thousands are being uprooted and displaced under the pretext of
'development' and 'industrialization' and while the public purpose/people's
interest are being bandied about to acquire lands for big dams, new ports or
cities, mines, for protecting forests or for creation of national parks and
sanctuaries, all this only serves the interests of capitalists, corporate
honchos and those in power but certainly not of those whose land is
expropriated through such laws. Displacement only results in creating
inequity, growth of capital/market-control over the economy, instead of
transforming the society based on justice and
equality. In the process of such development planning the place, role,
dignity, participation, i.e., the very existence of local bodies such as
Gramsabhas and Ward Committees is sought to be eliminated. Whole
life-support systems such as land, water and forests are being taken away
from those who possessed them for generations. Their Constitutional rights
are crushed with the help of new legislations.
The new Government has decided to place before Parliament the same old
legislation in its current session. The Amendments proposed in the old
British Land Acquisition Act, 1894 will put on fast-track displacement
rather than minimising it. The most damaging aspect of the amendments
proposed in the Land Acquisition Act is to bring private interest and
purpose within the definition of 'public purpose'.
This proposed legislation (Act) nullifies the rights accorded by Amendment
73-74 which required the consent of the Gram Sabha before any land
acquisition as well as rehabilitation, and the Environmental and Social
Impact Assessment of projects. It also envisaged exploration of alternatives
available so as to avoid or minimise displacement. The new amendments ignore
this totally. The Amendment also provides for the application of the
Emergency clause for land acquisition for corporations so that they can get
land within 15 days. This will inflict even greater injustice than the
current law.
The proposed National Resettlement and Rehabilitation Bill is not only weak
but negates the rights of the displaced to ask for land in return for land
or provision of livelihoods, but allows monetary compensation only. While
the earlier Rehabilitation Policy of 2007 was never implemented the new
changes seek to eliminate the role of Gramsabhas and Local Self Government
institutions. Affected people shall not even have the right to approach the
courts of law as new Act proposes to create merely an “Authority” to deal
with cash compensation.
*These two draft Amendments are being placed before current session of
Parliament as they were passed only in the Lok Sabha but not in the Rajya
Sabha earlier. *
Peoples' Organisations had prepared a comprehensive draft after nationwide
consultation on the National Development Planning Act based on equality and
justice in 2006 and forwarded it to the then UPA government with the
endorsement of the National Advisory Council and its Chairperson Smt. Sonia
Gandhi. Ignoring all this two new drafts that are being brought before
Parliament are not only extremely weak but will also increase the pace of
displacement. It is therefore imperative for Peoples' Movements, to unitedly
raise our strongest voice during this very Parliament in session.
LET US GATHER IN BIG NUMBERS ON 23-24 JULY AT JANTAR MANTAR, DELHI, TO
QUESTION THE DISPLACEMENT POLICY AND RAISE OUR VOICES TO SUPPORT THE REAL
PEOPLE'S PLAN FOR DEVELOPMENT.
ALL THE STATE LEVEL ORGANISATIONS TO MUSTER THEIR STRENGTH AND HIGHLIGHT
THEIR QUESTIONS, ISSUES AND STRUGGLES.
In solidarity,
*Medha** Patkar Gautam Bandopadhyay Shaktiman
Ghosh *
NAPM Nadi Ghati Morcha National
Hawkers Federation
*Ashok** Chowdhury & Pushpa Bhupendra Rawat
Suniti S R *
NFFPFW Jan Sangharsh Vahini Visthapan Virodhi Sangharsh
Samiti
*Rajendra Ravi Simpreet Singh Dayamani
Barla P Chennaiah*
NAPM, Delhi Ghar Bachao Ghar Banao Andolan INSAF
APVVU
*Gabriele** Geeta / Ramakrishnan Venkatesh Sandhya
Devi *
NMPS NAPM, Karnatak Kalahandi
Mahila Samiti
*Anand** Mazgaonkar Ulka
Mahajan Vimalbhai
Paryavaran Suraksha Samiti SEZ-Virodhi Sangharsh Samiti
MATU
