SJVN being a responsible corporate citizen is taking utmost care in
resettlement and rehabilitation of its Project Affected Families (PAFs)
whose land, house and other assets have been acquired or source of
livelihoods have been affected. It has formulated and adopted exhaustive R&R
plans which are being vigorously implemented in Projects . The basic
objective of the R&R Plans are to increase the socio-economic standard of
the PAFs or at least retain their previous standard. The major components
of the plans are providing of alternative agricultural land, suitable
constructed house or cash assistance for construction of house, employment,
financial assistance for self assistance and various infrastructural
facilities in their rehabilitated areas.
The Nigam has followed the resettlement and rehabilitation policy formulated in
consultation with Government of Himachal Pradesh to provide assistance and
rehabilitation measures to all those who are affected by the project. Its
various provisions are :
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Developed
agricultural land to land less Project affected families (PAFs) equivalent
to the area acquired or 5 bighas which ever is less. This 5 bighas would
include any land left with the family after acquisition. Allotment of land
will be made on the basis of landless certificate issued by the sub
Divisional Magistrate of the concerned area who also acts as R&R Officer
of the Project.
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24 houseless families have been provided
constructed houses in a well organized Rehabilitation Colony and 44
houseless families, as per their option, have been provided cash assistance
of Rs. 45,000/- each for constructing houses.
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75 displaced shopkeepers from Jhakri, have been
provided shop plots in a organized Market Complex to restart their business.
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Preference of allotment of shops at the shopping
complex built at Project site –Jhakri to the displaced shopkeepers.
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Provision for suitable employment to one member
of each landless PAFs according to his capacity and qualifications, subject
to availability of vacancy. However, a PAF who has been allotted a shop or
plot will not be eligible for employment.
All these benefits are in addition to land benefit to PAFs under Land
acquisition Act 1894.
The salient works under taken under R&R are as below:
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Land acquired from 480 families from 22 villages
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107 landless families have been provided
agricultural land
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62 families became landless.
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43 families were given cash in lieu of
alternative house.
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17 families were provided built up house.
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41 were provided with land for land benefit.
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3 have been provided shops in shopping complex.
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61 landless families have been provided regular
employment.
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45 landless families have been provided
alternative package of Rs. 2-3 lacs in lieu of employment.
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53 other project affected families have been
provided financial assistance up to Rs. 20,000/- under Income Generation
Scheme for self employment.
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46 students from PAFs have been provided Merit
Scholarship for pursuing Technical Education.
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16 awareness camps for horticulture / veterinary
/ agriculture practices have been organized in the affected areas.
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18 schools situated in project-affected villages
have been provided infrastructural and other aids like furniture, teaching
aids, sports items etc.
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Vehicles from 31 PAFs have been deployed for
project works.
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9 water supply schemes (WSS) in the affected
villages have been provide through HP IPH Deptt. in lieu of dried up water
sources in the area.
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32 contractors from PAFs have been provided
petty contracts with the project.
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A mobile Health van has been put into operation
to provide free medical services and medicines in Project affected villages
and surrounding villages.
NJHEP has also carried out following area developmental steps with a view
to raise the quality of the life of the local residents:
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Financial assistance of Rs. 17.5 crores to HP
Govt. for construction of Rampur by-pass road.
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Finance assistance of Rs. 8 crores to HP Govt.
for construction of 200 bedded Mahatma Gandhi Hospital at Rampur.
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Financial Assistance of Rs. 3.5 crores to HP
Govt. for construction of road from Dam site Nathpa to village Nathpa.
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Financial assistance of Rs. 75 lacs to HP govt.
for construction of helipad at Rampur.
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Financial assistance of Rs. 5 lacs to HP Govt.
development of parking facility at Bus Stand Rampur.
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Financial assistance of Rs. 50 lacs to HP Govt.
for construction of road from village Jhakri to Dhar Gaura village.
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Extension of education and hospital facilities
existing at project area to the local people.
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Construction of various link roads in the
project areas linking various villages on the National Highway.
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Construction of additional rooms and play
grounds for various schools situated in the project area.
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Providing of 5 bighas of land to Jhakri
Panchayat for construction of Panchayat Ghar / Mahila Mandal/Temple etc.
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Providing of financial assistance of Rs.
50,000/- each to 9 nos. of Mahila Mandals in the project affected villages.
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Drinking Water facilities in villages Jhakri
and Kotla where displaced families were rehabilitated.
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Construction of English medium schools upto
class 10+2 (DPS) at Jhakri
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Implementation of Infrastructural Development
Scheme in Project affected panchayats with a recurring annual budget of Rs.
1.5 Crores.
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Mahila Mandal Bhawan at Puje(Nichar).
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Double story building to Govt. Middle School
Baro(Sungra)
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Room and Hall for Panchayat Bhawan Ponda
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Panchayat Bhawan for Tranda Panchayat at
Nigulsari(Tranda)
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Construction of houses for Rehabilitation for
landless/houseless families at Jhakri
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Improvement of Dhar Gaura link road
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Special repair to the existing Bodh Mandhir
Nigulsari
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Construction of pucca path/steps from Tayawal to
cremation site near river Satluj
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Providing chain link fencing to the existing
playground of Sr. Sec. School at Jhakri
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Construction of playground at village Kinnu
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Infrastructural facilities to the Schools :
Govt. Primary School Sungra, Govt. Primary School Wadhal, Govt. Primary
SchoolKochari, Govt. Primary School Kotla, Govt. Primary School Jeori, Govt.
High School Wadhal, Govt. Sr. Sec. School Jeori
Mobile health Van
A mobile health van for the benefits of Project Affected Families which
visits the affected villages for health and hygiene awareness and treatment
since Jan. 2000. So far 20,000 patients have been benefited and a sum of Rs. 25
lacs has been incurred on this activity.
In addition to above salient features the following schemes have been
started with specific aim of care and development of Project Affected Families
and local residents.
Income Generation Activities
Support is provided to PAFs for starting Income Generation Activities such as poultry farm, milk diaries, taxis etc. A financial assistance is provided under this activity
Merit Scholarships Scheme for wards of PAFs
SJVN has also started Merit Scholarship scheme for the wards of PAFs who are
undergoing vocational / professional courses in the fields of ITI’s, Diploma
in Engineering/ Pharmacy ,Degree in engineering / Medicines .Under this scheme
the wards will be provided scholarship @ Rs. 800/- Per Month to Rs. 1500/Per
Month. 15 wards of PAFs are provided the Merit Scholarship.
Infrastructural Facilities and other aids to School
Infrastructural facilities and other aids in the shape of grants for
Primary to Sr. Secondary level Government Schools within two Project area.
Under this scheme financial assistance will be provided to the school so as to
improve the infrastructure and other aids such as books, notebooks, computer,
overhead projector, scientific equipment, extension of room etc., as per the
requirements of the school . This scheme is linked to afforestation campaign
also, where school students will be encouraged to plant saplings under a grant.
Compensation of Blast Damages
A compensation of 5.45 crores has been distributed to 5509 nos. local
residents whose houses were affected due to blasting activities. This
compensation was assessed by expert scientist of National Institute of Rock
Mechanics and Geologist of Government of H.P.-
Scheme for Restoration of Water Sources
The construction activities of NJHEP extended in districts of Kinnaur and
Shimla because of which water sources and schemes in the vicinity got affected.
A sum of Rs. 88 lacs has been provided to Irrigation & PH Department, GOHP
for restoration of dried up water sources and augmentation of water supply
schemes got affected by project activities. A total of Rs. 145 lacs will be
provided for this work.
Infrastructural Development Works
SJVNL has spent Rs. 226 lacs on Infrastructural Development works in
project affected area (project affected Panchayats ) ,where assistance is
provided to affected Panchayats for community development buildings, school
rooms, school play grounds, foot paths, foot bridges , cremation grounds etc.
Institutional Arrangement for R&R Implementation
Realizing need for proper infrastructure to implement the rehabilitation package, and help the PAFs to enhance their standard of living, SJVN has established Resettlement and Rehabilitation (R&R) cells at NJHEP & REHP with qualified professionals. Project Information Centres (PICs) are also operational at Jhakri and Rampur. The PICs are meant to act as a channel of communication between the local population and the Project Management.
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Awareness camp in village
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Rural sports and prize
distribution
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Impact Assessment of R&R
Activities in NJHEP.
A study was conducted by
Agro Economic Research Centre, HP University, Shimla (HP) on the impact
assessment of Resettlement & Rehabilitation (R&R) plan undertaken by NJHEP.
In the said study, the
magnitude indices during 2002 (after the NJHEP Project Implementation)
have been compared with the base line study (situation existing as on 1996)
and with the control sample household data (households in project area which
were not affected by NJHEP).
The findings of the study
are:
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Family size of the PAFs declined from 7.14 to 5.44 persons per family.
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Literacy rate has increased from 58% to 73%.
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Average annual household income increased from Rs . 21,648 (at 1996
price level) to Rs. 76,575, which works out to be Rs. 29,114 in 1996 and Rs.
1,04,640 in 2002 at current price levels.
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Proportion of families lving below poverty line
has decreased from 25.6% to 16.8% now.
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Average per capita monthly expenditure of PAFs increased from Rs. 575
to Rs. 674, showing an improvement in their consumption pattern and standard
of living.
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Percentage of workers engaged in regular employment increased from
20% to 30%.
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Percentage of workers engaged in business increased from 7% to 9%.
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More people live in pucca houses (45% as compared to 21% earlier).
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More people have separate bathrooms in households (46% as compared to
21% earlier).
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Improvement in the overall living standards of the families due to
NJHEP implementation.
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Diversification of income and employment avenues through income
generation schemes, towards business and other self employment activities is
taking place.
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Improvement in the housing standards, quality of health care due to
enhancement of diagnostic facilities with the introduction of mobile health
unit by SJVN.
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SJVN has taken measures to strengthen the existing infrastructure
facilities, including health facilities and education and roads, which are
providing immense benefits to the PAF’s in the project area.
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Project affected families have received full and adequate compensation. The
compensation amount has been used rationally and judiciously by PAFs.
Overall situation of PAFs is better now.
The above
findings by HP University present the sincere and earnest efforts of SJVN to
Implement R&R Plan. World Bank Appreciation The World Bank Mission has monitored the R&R activities carried out in NJHEP
time and again and has appreciated the efforts made for rehabilitation of
the PAFs as under;“The success of the resettlement activity
undertaken in this Project is quite rare for India, and can be considered as
one of the best examples of resettlement implementation in Bank-Assisted
Projects in India. It should be considered as an example for other projects."
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