Source: The Sangai Express / Manipur Info Centre
New Delhi, November 12 2008:
M Lakshmikumar Singh IAS (MT cadre), who attended the 105th Induction Training Programme for IAS Officers at Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration at Mussoorie from September 14 to November 7 along with H Deleep Singh IAS and K Radhakumar Singh IAS, was awarded the first prize of the Group Work Presentation.
He was the first Manipuri who received the first prize in such Induction Training Programme for IAS.
M Lakshmikumar Singh here on Monday stated that IAS officers from 10 different states attended the training programme.
During the programme, a team consisting of five IAS officers namely Utpal Mukherjee, KS Sreenivasa Raju, M Lakshmikuar Singh, SS Yeole and M Girija Shankar formed a group for the Group Work Presentation.
"Need for more responsive Revenue Administration in Land Acquisition and Rehabilitation and Resettlement Matters" was their topic.
In their group presentation, they cited, among the State experiences, the example of Singur's Nano experience where it became an eye-opener to all Governments that without a proper Rehabilitation and Resettlement Policy in place, land acquisitions would rather throw up more problems
than prospects.
Referring to the Manipur experience, the group cited the example of the land acquisition for the establishment of National Institute of Technology at Lamphelpat in Manipur.
During the year 2007, the Manipur Government decided to allot 300 acres of land around Imphal as the NIT's site.
The twothree sites chosen did not get public support on the ground that land acquisition there would mean loss of agricultural land as well as deprivation of livelihood and shelter of project affected people.
Finally, a site was selected at Lamphelpat as the site had scope for developing into an institutional area or else the land would have gone into the hands of land sharks.
In the latter part of 2007, 300 acres of land was finally procured under the provisions of Land Acquisition Act, of which 160 acres was homestead land and 140 acres Government Khas land.
The number of land owners involved was 350.Compensation for agricultural land was paid at the rate of Rs.7.55 per sq ft plus 30 percent solatium and Rs.12 percent as surcharge.
For homestead land, it was Rs.30.47 per sq ft plus 30 percent solatium and 12 percent surcharge.
Much of the resentment of the affected land owners was due to land price being too meagre.
Besides owing to vast difference in the prices of the two categories of land, there were attempts to change the classification of land by unfair means.
However, despite opposition and resentment, the Government still overcame the issue as public opinion was generally in favour of the Institute.
Nevertheless, a better planning and more responsive approach in terms of rehabilitation and resettlement could have easily won over the project affected parsons.
The group suggested a transparent Rehabilitation and Resettlement package should be in place for each project linked with Land Acquisition and this should be made known to the project affected people so as to allay their fears.
The group urged upon those officers who handled Land Acquisition and Rehabilitation and Resettlement proceedings to always keep in mind the true spirit of responsive administration and endeavour protecting the poor farmers from the evil consequences of land acquisition and displacement.
M Lakshmikumar received the trophy for the first prize of Group Wok Presentation from the Governor of Uttarakhand BL Joshi who was the chief guest of the concluding function held on November 7 last.