The Odisha government has enhanced monetary assistance for project-affected families under its Resettlement and Rehabilitation (R&R) Policy, with provisions remaining applicable until March 31, 2028. According to a resolution issued by the Revenue and Disaster Management Department, self-relocation assistance outside rehabilitation colonies has been increased from ₹1,13,128 to ₹1,16,550, while housing construction assistance has risen from ₹3,39,383 to ₹3,49,650. The monthly maintenance allowance has been raised from ₹4,525 to ₹4,662 and assistance for temporary sheds from ₹22,626 to ₹23,310. For agricultural land, grant for irrigated land has been increased from ₹2,26,255 an acre to ₹2,33,100, while assistance for non-irrigated land has risen from ₹1,13,128 to ₹1,16,550 an acre.
The government has revised the one-time financial assistance in lieu of employment for displaced families. For industrial projects, assistance has been fixed at ₹11,65,500 for Category I, ₹6,99,300 for Category II, ₹4,66,200 for Category III, and ₹2,33,100 for Categories IV and V. The same rates have been prescribed for families displaced by mining projects, with Categories IV, V and VI covered under the lowest slab. As reported by Business Standard, these increases are unlikely to resolve the larger problem of acquiring private land and handing it over to project proponents within promised timelines.
Landowners in project-affected regions argue that the assistance remains small compared with the sharp rise in land values and long-term livelihood losses. Gobinda Naik from Rayagada district stated that the market value of land is two to three times what the government is offering, with cases in suburban and urban areas showing land costs five to 10 times the government rate. According to Business Standard, Naik noted that an increase of ₹3,422 in self-rehabilitation assistance or ₹6,845 per acre for irrigated agricultural land is inadequate for a family losing land that represents its principal productive asset. The economic dependence on land, agriculture and forest resources makes acquisition particularly sensitive for local communities.
Officials said the latest R&R revision was an attempt to make the rehabilitation component more responsive to changing costs. As reported by Business Standard, the Revenue Department has issued specific directions for streamlining land acquisition at the district level to ensure timely completion of projects, while a special land acquisition cell has been opened in every district to address the grievances of land losers. However, land losers question whether the increments adequately reflect the economic value of the land being surrendered, demanding a rehabilitation package that protects their long-term livelihoods and gives them a meaningful stake in economic activity made possible by their land.
