Law to protect interest of displaced farmers soon: President

The Government will reintroduce the Rehabilitation and Resettlement Bill in the forthcoming budget session of Parliament to protect the interest of farmers displaced in the process of land acquisition.

The Government will also amend the Land Acquisition Act to protect the interest of those dependent on farming for their livelihoods, President Pratibha Patil said while addressing the joint session of Parliament today.

"It will be our endeavour to have these bills reintroduced and enacted in the budget session of Parliament," she added.

The Amendment Bill to the Land Acquisition Act and the Rehabilitation and Resettlement Bill prepared to protect farmers and others dependent on farming from unfair displacement were earlier placed before Parliament but could not be carried through.

As the bills have lapsed with the term of the 14th Lok Sabha coming to an end, the Government will have to re-introduce them.

Following protest from farmers, auto major Tata Motors had to shift the manufacturing plant of its small car Nano, from Singur in West Bengal to Sanand in Gujarat.