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Hemen Parekh — hcp@RecruitGuru.com
PAPs who lost land to highway projects must be compensated
I write as someone who cares about development that does not discard people. When a highway slices through fields, courtyards and livelihoods, the people who lose land — Project Affected Persons (PAPs) — do not just lose property. They lose history, security, daily income and dignity. Compensation is not charity; it is an obligation: legal, ethical and practical.
Context: involuntary resettlement and land acquisition
Involuntary resettlement happens when the state or a project developer acquires land for public works and people are required to move or give up productive assets. Good practice — reflected in national laws such as the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013 (India) and in international safeguards like the World Bank’s involuntary resettlement policy — says that displaced people should be helped to at least restore their pre-project living standards and incomes.Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency (2013) World Bank RPF
I have written previously about humane urban renewal and the need to keep livelihoods close to work and community life — those earlier reflections remain relevant as we debate compensation and resettlement today.Urban Renewal ?
Legal and ethical obligations
- Legal: Authorities must follow the law — timely valuation, social impact assessment, transparent notification, and delivery of compensation and rehabilitation entitlements within prescribed timelines. The law requires that acquisition be the last resort and that affected people receive fair R&R packages.
- Ethical: Development is only just when those who bear its burden share in its benefits. Ethics demand meaningful consultation, informed consent where applicable, and special care for vulnerable households.
- Practical: Poorly handled resettlement creates long-term social costs — poverty, urban slums, litigation and project delays. Fair compensation is therefore economically sensible.
What fair compensation looks like (components)
A fair package is multi-dimensional — money alone rarely suffices. Components should include:
- Land-for-land replacement (preferred where possible): equivalent productive land close to original holdings, with secure tenure.
- Cash compensation at replacement cost plus indexation/solatium: not depreciated market rates that leave families worse off.
- Livelihood restoration: vocational training, seed capital, guaranteed work schemes or annuities to replace lost income streams.
- Relocation assistance: transport, temporary housing or shelter grants, help to rebuild homes, access to local schools and health services.
- Infrastructure at resettlement sites: roads, water, electricity, common facilities and access to markets.
- Special support for vulnerable groups: women-headed households, elderly, indigenous communities, tenants and informal occupants.
- Grievance redress: accessible, time-bound complaint mechanisms with independent oversight and legal aid.
Steps authorities must take to ensure a fair process
- Carry out an independent Social Impact Assessment and a full census of affected families before any declaration.
- Conduct transparent, participatory consultations and publish the R&R scheme for public review.
- Use independent valuation experts to determine replacement cost; deposit funds before taking physical possession.
- Offer land-for-land where practicable; otherwise pay timely cash at replacement cost and provide livelihood packages.
- Provide transitional support (subsistence allowance, moving costs) and ensure no household is evicted before entitlements are delivered.
- Set up a multi-stakeholder grievance redress mechanism with civil-society participation and a clear timeline for remedies.
- Engage third-party monitors (independent NGOs/experts) and publish periodic compliance reports.
The role of NGOs and media
- NGOs: monitor processes, provide legal aid, run livelihood programs, help document losses and represent marginalized voices in consultations.
- Media: keep stories in public view, pressure authorities to act transparently, and highlight best-practice examples. Responsible reporting shifts the balance toward humane, accountable solutions.
A call to action
To policymakers: design and implement acquisition and R&R with the presumption that people matter as much as projects. Prioritize land-for-land, timely payments, livelihood restoration and independent monitoring.
To the general public: support fair treatment for PAPs. Infrastructure that displaces people without just compensation erodes the social contract.
To affected families: document your land and livelihood claims, insist on a detailed R&R scheme, seek help from local NGOs or legal aid, and use the grievance channels the law provides.
When development proceeds without justice, it creates scars that do not heal. If we want highways that connect people to opportunity, we must also build processes that protect the people those highways cross.
Regards,
Hemen Parekh — hcp@RecruitGuru.com
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