Tribals losing livelihood due to land acquisition: Tirath

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Injecting a new dimension to the debate on land acquisition, women and child development minister Krishna Tirath on Monday said such steps are causing displacement and loss of occupation for tribal women, exposing them to "exploitation and trafficking".

The government will have to ensure security of livelihood of tribals when their land is acquired, she said at a conference on issue of scheduled tribe women and children.

"Large-scale displacement of tribals due to land acquisition for development is a challenge. Women become most vulnerable in such situations. Being mainly employed in agriculture or forest-based livelihood, displacement deprives tribal women of their occupation, often leading to migration which exposes them exploitation or trafficking," she said.

The minister said the government is concerned about the issue of land acquisition and is holding deliberations.

But regardless of the outcome of the discussions, it is necessary to ensure livelihood security of tribals when land is acquired for development purposes, she said, adding that the "gender dimension" will have to be kept in mind in this regard.

The comments assume significance against the backdrop of the raging debate on land acquisition, which came to the fore once again after the Bhatta-Parsaul incident of May 7 when farmers protesting over rate of compensation for their land taken for a road project in Greater Noida clashed with police.

In 2011, West Bengal has seen huge anti-land acquisition movements in Singur and Nandigram while the issue of displacement of tribals due to mining and other activities in central India were raised by social activists repeatedly.

The government plans to amend the old Land Acquisition Act, which has faced flak from various quarters.