Bhubaneswar, 11 August (H.S.): The Odisha government is preparing to unveil a new Resettlement and Rehabilitation (R&R) Policy in 2025, aimed at safeguarding the rights of displaced communities and ensuring consent-based land acquisition for development projects. The proposed policy will offer affected individuals multiple options for compensation, including land-for-land and equity participation in projects.

State Revenue and Disaster Management Minister Suresh Pujari shared details of the upcoming policy during an interaction with the media on Monday. He confirmed that internal discussions are already underway at the government level to draft and implement the revised framework.

Under the proposed policy, the government will shift away from a one-size-fits-all approach to land acquisition. “No project or company will be allowed to forcibly acquire land. Displaced families will be given alternatives based on their needs and preferences,” said Pujari.

A key feature of the new policy is the option for land losers to receive land in exchange for their acquired property, rather than monetary compensation. Additionally, affected individuals will have the option to become shareholders in the respective projects, allowing them to benefit from long-term returns.

“If someone prefers, the government will facilitate proportional shareholding in the project instead of direct financial compensation,” Pujari explained. He emphasized that the decision will rest entirely with the affected individuals, reaffirming the government’s commitment to participatory and transparent resettlement practices.

The new policy is also being designed with a special focus on tribal communities, many of whom have expressed a preference for land-based compensation. Officials noted that cash payouts often prove unsustainable, as many recipients are unable to invest the money productively.

“It has come to our attention that monetary compensation often gets exhausted within three years. Many of the affected people are not trained to start businesses or manage investments, which leads to long-term hardship,” Pujari said.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Monalisa Panda