Apex industry chamber FICCI has pitched for a “balanced” land acquisition law that would make it easier for large industry to acquire land.
Also, the concept of rehabilitation and resettlement (R&R) should not be stipulated when land is acquired by large private sector projects where there is a willing seller and willing buyer, Naina Lal Kidwai, FICCI President, said here on Thursday.
“Why should there be a rehabilitation and resettlement for a private transaction? We recognise that it is there otherwise. But it should not be applicable here (private transaction involving willing seller),” Kidwai told a press conference after a meeting of the National Executive Committee.
Kidwai maintained these were generic views of the chamber on R&R and one would have to wait for the amendments moved to the original Bill to know the actual situation.
Rural Development Minister Jairam Ramesh had recently said that the Government would introduce the revised land acquisition Bill in the ongoing Budget session as there was political consensus.
Kidwai said that the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) was keen to ensure that the Bill was beneficial for the country at the end of the day.
“Today, we are not sure whether its actually going to benefit the country or not. The whole subject should be relooked,” she said.
Kidwai stressed the need for a balance even as she saw merit in the Government ensuring that people unaware in the past were now properly compensated.
“But, at the end of the day, if you are not going to have industry, then there will be no jobs and that won’t be right. Our worry is that the balance is now tilted away from industry rather than it being in favour of it,” she said.
AFFIRMATIVE ACTION
The FICCI National Executive Committee on Thursday resolved to accept the FICCI Code of Conduct on Affirmative Action, to promote inclusive growth, create opportunities and empowerment of backward sections of the society.
The chamber will urge its member companies to promote and adopt this code of conduct in their enterprise level policies, as part of their “corporate social responsibility”.
Kidwai said that a resolution on affirmative action was not being adopted due to any fear of impending legislative action by the Government.
FICCI sees the resolution as a reminder to its members that affirmative action should happen and that it was an important agenda.