'Formulate Natiional rehabilitation policy '

Jamshedpur, Apr 1: The Adivasi Adhikar Morcha (AAM) has urged the Centre to formulate a comprehensive National rehabilitatiion policy in view of the large-scale displacement of people due to various development projects and building of dams.

Chief convenor of AAM Salkhan Murmu told reporters here yesterday that the Morcha had created a blue print for a national rehabiliation policy on March 5 and sent it to the Centre.

Mr Murmu said a uniform law should be introduced under clause 21 of the Constitution (Fundamental rights) and a legislation should be brought after formulation of the policy, which would work as a uniform yardstick for all the states.

He said the new policy would be pro-people and pro-tribal. Mr Murmu also urged the government to refrain from acquisition of lands for development projects until the national rehabilitation policy was enforced.

The tribal leader said the Kalinganagar firing incident which claimed the lives of 12 innocent tribals was an eye opener and had forced people to think about the necessity of a national policy.

Mr Murmu also expressed concern over the office of the profit issue in Jharkhand and said considering the anarchy prevailing in the state, the Centre should dismiss the BJP-led NDA government and then a fresh mandate should be sought.

Mr Murmu said as the NDA and the UPA had both failed to deliver the goods, the AAM had forged an alliance with the Left parties, which would emerge as a third force in the state.

The AAM and the Left parties would jointly organise a meeting at Dumka on April 8 to apprise the people of the emergence of the new front, Mr Murmu said.

UNI