Electronic Dialogue: Implementation of Land Acquisition Bill in India (April 20-22)
The India Food Security Portal provides policy research, capacity-building resources, and an active and inclusive policy network that is fostered through interactive dialogues on food security. The goal of the India Food Security Portal is to inform the policymaking process and ensure that food security-relevant policy processes at the national and state levels in India are more effective at addressing food insecurity. It also aims to create a network of individuals engaged in the international, national, and local policymaking process in India that can impact policies on this issues.
The International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI), supported by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC), invites you to participate in an electronic dialogue to be held April 20-22 and hosted on the India Food Security Portal. This electronic dialogue complements ongoing dialogues hosted by IFPRI and the supporting institutions in the target states that cover a range of timely issues. The purpose of the electronic and actual dialogues is to exchange experiences and generate joint research activities that foster targeted food-security policies and investments in India. This electronic dialogue will be adaptive but will focus upon the implementation of the Land Acquisition Bill in India.
The previous government enacted “Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013.” Earlier, land acquisition in India was governed by the Land Acquisition Act of 1894. The new government, which came to power in mid-2014 brought an ordinance (approved by the President) on 31 December 2014 to make few amendments in the Act. The argument for passing out the ordinance was to meet the twin objectives of farmer welfare, along with expeditiously meeting the strategic and development needs of the country”. The ordinance to make an Act was passed as the “Land Acquisition Amendment Bill” in the Lower House of Parliament. Since the government does not have majority in the Upper House, the Bill could not be passed during the Budget session. The government is again planning to take the Bill through ordinance route till the next session of Parliament. An ordinance must be passed by both the houses within the six months of getting approval of the ordinance. The virtual dialogue will discuss the opportunities and constraints for this bill and the possible implications for farmers in India.
The schedule of this dialogue is outlined below. Each day, the noted expert will provide a short commentary. The comments of all parties will then be collected, summarized, and circulated.
April 20: Dr. PK Joshi, Director, IFPRI-New Delhi Office
1. What are the positive and negative aspects in the amended Land Acquisition Bill over the “Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013”?
2. What actions are needed to pass the land acquisition bill 2014?
April 21: Dr. Devesh Roy, Research Fellow, IFPRI-New Delhi Office
1. How will the amendments in 2013 Act benefit farmers and their livelihoods?
2. Suggestions for developing a pro-farmers and pro-development ‘Land Acquisition Act”
April 22: Dr. Mahendra Dev, Director, Indira Gandhi Institute of Development Research
1. Various options for compensating and resettling farmers whose lands will be acquired.
2. Related questions as determined by dialogue.