NEW DELHI: The Union Cabinet will shortly consider a more "humane" rehabilitation and resettlement policy for project-displaced people. It will also consider a Resettlement & Rehabilitation (R & R) Bill and changes to the Land Acquisition (LA) Act that bars civil courts from adjudicating on cases filed by the displaced people, highly placed sources told The Hindu.

Work began on the three policy initiatives after the Nandigram firing and violence at a few other project sites. The Union Rural Development Ministry made a presentation to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on these issues and following suggestions made at the meeting, the Law Ministry is giving the finishing touches to the R & R Bill and the LA Act.

The R & R policy would include all cases of involuntary displacement and not just those affected by projects involving displacement above a certain number.

A national commission would be set up to monitor rehabilitation and all Central Ministries having major projects would be asked to create internal oversight committees. It would be mandatory for each project to have R & R committees with broad representation including women, SCs & STs and legislators. There would be a compulsory "social impact assessment" for all projects by which over 400 people have been displaced.

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