2521 Dandakaranya [ RAJYA SABHA ] Project 2522 Clauses 2 and 3 and the Schedule were added to the Bill.

Clause 1, the Enacting Formula and the Title were added to the Bill.

SHRI B. R. BHAGAT: Sir, I move:

"That the Bill be returned."

MR. DEPUTY CHAIRMAN: The question is:

"That the Bill be returned."

The motion was adopted. MR. DEPUTY CHAIRMAN: We will now go to Dandakaranya. MR. DEPUTY CHAIRMAN: An; reply?

SHRI B. R. BHAGAT: The reply tc the last 3 P.M. point raised by the hon Member is that each item is mentionec in the Supplementary MOTION RE. THE DANDAKAR- Demands foi Grants. They have all been ANYA PROJECT due tc post-budget decision about SHRI BHUPESH GUPTA (West certair matters like relief and rehabilitation, ): Sir, I beg to move: floating of a new Government-owned company or expenditure on Tibetan "That the for the refugees. All the items are those which rehabilitation of displaced persons from could not be anticipated when the budget was East and its implementation be framed. The Government however is living taken into consideration." in a dynamic situation and after the budget Sir, my purpose in sponsoring this particular estimates are made if any more decisions are motion is to afford to ourselves an taken, naturally it results in supplementary opportunity to discuss an important demands. I think there is nothing unusual project in the country. Somehow or or undesirable in this. other we have passed over it somewhat in silence. Sometimes we have made MR. DEPUTY CHAIRMAN: The occasional and casual remarks, but beyond question is: that we have not done anything. I think, Sir, we should consider the project and look "That tiie Bill to authorise payment and into its problems a little more deeply for appropriation of certain further sums from two reasons: firstly, it is an important and out of the Consolidated Fund of project involving in the long run, we are told, for the services of the financial year 1959- Rs. IOO crores and in the short run Rs. 60, as passed by the Lok Sabha, be taken 30 crores. Secondly, it is also a matter into consideration." of rehabilitation of displaced persons which again is to be viewed from the point The motion was adopted. of view of human compassion apart from other economic factors. MR. DEPUTY CHAIRMAN: We shall now take up clause by clause consideration Sir, I think the Government of India has of the Bill. not been very very open-hearted in this matter. We have not been told 2523 Dandakaranya [ 1 SEP. 1959 ] Project 2524 how things are progressing, and Irom time to as far as the bigger aspect is concerned, time we have been supplied with some you know that this will require not only documents. So I would request the hon. efforts iy the field of agriculture but also efforts Members of the House to consider what I in the fields of industry, mining, transport say on the subject. Rarely, Sir, has so much and communications, and so on. It is a vast of tall talk been matched by so little of problem, and I think that it is wrong to view performance, and if it were only a question this only from the point of view of the of bad performance, we would have perhaps Rehabilitation Ministry. If we are to develop excused the authorities responsible for it. I these underdeveloped areas of Andhra, say that there has been a lot of bungling, a Orissa and embracing some lot of maladministration and many other 80,000 square miles, then naturally it is not things which require the attention of a task for the particular Rehabilitation Parliament. Ministry. It is the task of the Planning Commission, the National Development Now, Sir, the Dandakaranya project has Council, to formulate policies and supervise two aspects. One is the bigger aspect of the the operations, and then many Ministries and development of an undeveloped area. As far States have to co-ordinate their activities. as that aspect is concerned, namely the deve- That is not at all being done. On the lopment of an undeveloped area, there contrary we find that this Dandakaranya cannot be two opinions that in a developing Development project authority is being economy when we are making the nation, steadily, if surreptitiously, transformed into such ventures should be undertaken, and we an appendage of the Rehabilitation Ministry, a want such areas to be developed. Then, Sir, kind of branch of the Rehabilitation Ministry there is another aspect, a somewhat narrower and that rules out the consideration that they aspect, and that is that we are trying to should bring about an all-sided development of rehabilitate the displaced persons from East the whole area. I take it therefore that they Pakistan whose resettlement in life are more concerned with the rehabilitation according to the Government has become of the displaced persons there. Sir, here I difficult within the State of , but would like only to add before I pass on to the which is not so according to us. I shall come narrower aspect that nobody believed it when to that aspect later. Therefore, roughly there the Government said that they were going to are two aspects: one is the broad and.general develop these 80,000 square miles under that aspect, and the other is more in the focus, the project by spending Rs. 100 crores. It was all immediate aspect of the project. I would like moonshine, because we know that it is not a the House not to confuse the two issues. small job. It is a big job and it could not be undertaken in that cavalier fashion, in that light-hearted manner in which it was Either we look at it from the angle of announced earlier. But people did take development of a vast area of 80,000 square seriously their proposal in respect of the miles, 30,000 square miles to begin with, or smaller aspect of the matter, that is to say the we look at it from the point of view of the project for the rehabilitation of the rehabilitation of the displaced persons in that displaced persons. area. It is also understandable that we view it from both the angles, namely that we rehabilitate these persons to develop this Now, Sir, as I said, Rs. 30 crores had been area, and also in the process of development sanctioned for a period of ten years, Rs. 10 of that particular area we rehabilitate the crores for a period of the first three years. A displaced persons from . I can blue print of this thing was prepared in 1957. understand all that. Now, Sir, I asked for a eopy of it from tha 2525 Dandakaranya t RAJYA SABHA ] Project 2526 [Shri Bhupesh Gupta.] Ministry in June that there were 50,000 families of displaced 1957 and I was supplied with it, and from that persons in the camps of West Bengal out of I gathered that a high level Committee other- whom 30,000 would be taken in March 1959, wise called A.M.P.O., under the chairmanship this year, to Dandakaranya. Dandakaranya will of Mr. H. M. Patel, former Principal Finance be so equipped and developed that it will be in Secretary, was appointed in January 1957. The a position to receive 30,000 families of Com-riaittee consisted of representatives of displaced persons out of 50,000 families living the Planning Commission, the Union in the camps. Then his counter part— Ministries of Agriculture, Rehabilitation and miniature counter-part, if I may say so—in the Home Affairs, and so on, and it submitted its State, Mr. Tarun Kanti Ghosh, Rehabilitation report. Its suggestions fall under five broad Minister, promised that he would give 21 categories: balanced utilisation of available bighas of land to each family going to land; establishment of industries; educational Dandakaranya, that is to say, seven acres to training facilities; transport and each family. Then the services of Mr. Ashoke communications; and exploration and Sen, the Law Minister— I do not see him development of the mineral resources. These here—were requisitioned, and he went to the were the broad lines of recommendations by camp and said, "I have come here. I shall stand that A.M.P.O., that high power committee. or fall with you. I shall go to Dandakaranya". Money was also sanctioned on the basis of Rs. Almost heaven was promised down on earth. IOO crores for the entire period of thirty years These displaced persons were to get heaven on and Rs. 30 crores for ten years. Every year we earth That is how they talked. Mr. Khanna sanction money in the budget. declared on January 23, this year, that 2,25,000 acres of land would be reclaimed. He The A.M.P.O. also recommended that the made an announcement like that. Dandakaranya Development Authority be THE MINISTER OF REHABILITATION invested with sufficient powers to enable it to AND MINORITY AFFAIRS (SHRI; MEHR function autonomously. I mention this fact because it is not functioning, so to say, auto- CHAND KHANNA): When was this nomously now. More and more it is being announcement made'" swallowed up by the Rehabilitation Ministry, SHRI BHUPESH GUPTA: According to the and much of its autonomy is gone. Why it has gone, you will hear from the hon. Minister. Statesman, you did it on January 23, 1959. That is how the plan came. SHRI MEHR CHAND KHANNA: That is entirely incorrect. It is being put into my Then began the period of intensive mouth. What I have said was only this, that propaganda. A lot of money was spent to get our first phase would comprise reclamation of stories circulated through the newspapers. As two and a quarter lakh of acres. you know, our Rehabilitation Minister is a fine talker. Whatever else he may or may not SHRI BHUPESH GUPTA: Well, Sir, two be, there is no doubt about the fact that he is and a quarter lakh of acres. Anyway, this an excellent talker, and he did a lot of public appeared in the Statesman. I did not get any talking on the subject. He delivered many contradiction. What you have said also lectures, issued many statements, held nice approximates to this thing. press conferences, called M.Ps, to meetings where he gave not only good sweets but also Sir, this is how they talked about this, and sweet talks. Thus, there began a period of on the basis of their paper plans, they took a very brisk propaganda. What did he say? number of very hasty decisions. They He said decided to shut 2527 Dandakaranya [ 1 SEP. 1959 ] Project 2528 down, close, the refugee camps in Calcutta and gone out to expand, as if a new Bengal would in West Bengal, by the 31st July, 1959, on the be created in that area. This is what was said. assumption that by March, 1959, thirty thousand Well, the Madhya Pradesh Congress—the families would be taken to - Dandakaranya and Orissa Congress too—took exception *to it the rest would be rehabilitated within West because they would not like a Naya Bangala Bengal. Therefore there would be no need for to be created outside the boundaries of West any camp whatsoever. They also - announced Bengal. But such a kind of propaganda was that the doles of those who would not go—they made by the hon. Minister and his friends to get doles whenever they live in the camps— mislead the people quite deliberately, I say. I wojld be stopped, and they would be asked to am very sorry to say this, because speeches shift for themselves after the 31st July, but are there. They are reported in the would be given six months' dole as a sort of newspapers. You can see what kind of tall talk consolation—a pittance. That was their idea. In they made about this matter. Naturally, they other words, they decided to abandon this were pulled up by some people, when the scheme by the middle of this year and asked the matter came up in the Orissa Assembly, that refugees either to go to Dandakaranya or to face they should not call it tht- 'Naya Bangala'. starvation. They said, "After 31st July, if you do This is how they proceeded in this matter. not go to Dandakaranya, you would be given six months' dole" which is nothing. Even if you pay six months dole together, it is nothing for a Now, our stand at that time was that those family. That is how they decided. who wanted to go voluntarily, let them. go. Do not take people by methods of coercion and Naturally, we shall state what view we took intimidation, that is to say, by threatening the of this matter. But before that, I would say that closure of the camps, by threatening to stop the representative of the Statesman of Calcutta the doles and so on. This was our stand. We went to Dandakaranya area. The Statesman is were accused of creating obstruction. I one of the very strong advocates of this personally, on behalf of our Party, went to a scheme and he wrote a special article in the camp in November to address a meeting and Statesman where he said that only 1,400 acres there not only did I ask them that those who had been reclaimed. He wrote an article saying wanted to go to other places should be allowed that. He spoke in that article in a very to go, but I also saw to it that this particular pessimistic tone because he was thoroughly report of my speech appeared in the newspaper disappointed by going there. A Consultative so that all refugees would know that we were Committee meeting took place in August—a not against those who wanted to go there few days back. I am told that the Minister voluntarily, but on the contrary, we would like himself revealed that only 2,000 acres had these people to be given our good wishes. But been so far reclaimed. Mr. Fletcher, the Chief at the same time we did not like that the people Administrator, I think spoke somewhere, and should be coerced or forced to go there. Mr. he said that a total of 25,000 acres would be Jyoti Basu and I addressed a letter to the Prime reclaimed by the year. This is how they Minister about that time—he was in the spoke. Nagpur Session of the Congress— and he was good -enough to reply to that letter Now, as you know, Sir, the Congress was immediately. He said that the camp should be making very much propaganda about it in dissolved and that he did not like the people to Calcutta. The 24 Parganas District Congress live on doles, with which we agree. But he Committee issued a hand-out entitled 'Naya accused the refugees of coercion. Sir, it is an Bangala'— 'New Bengal'—as if Bengalis interesting point how the Prime Minister was have not being properly 2529 Dandakaranya [ RAJYA SABHA ] Project 2530 [Shri Bhupesh Gupta.] instructed in this threat or by compulsion. Anyway, what matter by his colleagues. He wrote us a rather happened after that? After alL these promises, interesting letter. In that letter the Prime so far how many families went there? Thirty Minister said that this forcible movement to thousand families were supposed to be there Dandakaranya . . . by March this year. Now, only 201 families have been there so far—only 201 families SHRI MEHR CHAND KHANNA: Will you they have been able to take. Is it due to our kindly read the extracts about coercion which fault? No. They could not make the necessary you mentioned in the Prime Minister's letter. arrangements for them. Development was not progressing. Mind you, 201 families have SHRI BHUPESH GUPTA: You want the gone there against the target of 30,000 Prime Minister's letter? It is here. I have families by March, 1959. This was a colossal marked it. bluff—I call it such—which was givea to the refugees because somehow or ether, the SHRI MEHR CHAND KHANNA: Reply Government thought that these refugees also. should be bundled out of West Bengal—that is their idea—and the West Bengal SHRI BHUPESH GUPTA: Reply is not Government was pressurising and he accepted necessary. I have not got it. it because once he is a go-getter, once he gets doing a wrong thing by his hasty decision, he "I am surprised snd distressed that in a proceeds and does not listen to anybody. We matter which is obvious, the U.C.R.C.—I pointed out to the Prime Minister in our letter do not know what these initials stand for— whether it would be possible for the ." Government to make arrangements even to receive so many families within such a short Even he does not know what this time. To that we did not get much reply. stands for.

"has decided on some kind of a struggle. Anyway, the first batch went in November, That I would call an attempt at coercion." 1958, and the second went, I believe, in Mr. Jyoti Basu and I wrote to him that the March, 1959. When the Calcutta Authority threat of closure of the camps and the was preparing the list for further batches, suddenly instructions came from the Central stoppage of doles was actually B coercion. To that, he replied by saying that the refugees Ministry that no more refugees should be sent were coercing the Government. Well, Sir, he from the 25 camps. People there were never used such an expression when the shocked, "What is this? They were supposed bigger threat was going on somewhere—in to send so many!" Now, instructions come Kerala. Anyway, that is how we thought he that no one should be sent. And just about that would react. We thought that nothing would time, another instruction came. They said that come out of the Prime Minister's statement no one should he sent, no refugee family anyway. should be sent, whose number exceeded four—that is to say, refugee families SHRI MEHR CHAND KHANNA: How consisting of not more than four members, does Kerala come into this? should be sent—and even that was given up. In March they wrote to their authorities in SHRI BHUPESH GUPTA: You will speak. Calcutta that no more should be sent and naturally no one had gone and with 201 they Sir, I make the position very clear. The remained. Here is issue was not whether they should or should not go. It was whether people should be taken there under 2531 Dandakaranya [ 1 SEP. 1959 ] Project 2532 a gap between profession and performance— Central Tractor Organisation. They are lying 30,000 profession; 201 performance. Now it idle there and some caravans are there in front seems that the original plan of sending of the office and they are lying idle and two partially rehabilitated or unrehabilitated caravans,. I am told, are being used for resi- refugees to the Dandakaranya area has been dential purposes of the officers. given up. Now what are the conditions there? I would read out here what the 'Amrita Bazar Then I understand that in some tents officers Patrika', a very great advocate of the are living and some of the officers, I am told, Dandakaranya scheme, writes editorially on are using dressing tables. They have taken the August 14. dressing tables in the tents because they want a comfortable life. I do not mind it, but then it "The high hope which the Dandakaranya should be given also for the other people, the- project had awakened in the hearts of the refugees. displaced persons today lies shattered." Then, Sir, there is an industrial officer This is what the 'Amrita Bazar Patrika' writes. whose job, up to February this year, had been Now here is what the 'Statesman' writes: one of making arrangements for shikar, and hunting goes on. Arranging for shikar had "There is the hitch between the Ministry been his sole job. Since February, I am told, and other officials also." he has been put on some other job. But he had been there more for arranging for shikar. I am not bothered about it. because that is not my main point. But all kinds of things are Then, Sir, contracts are being given without being said in the newspapers. calling for tenders at times, and there is a lot of grievance on the part of the people, the Now let us see how the 201 families are Bengalis there. The Bengalis say that they are living in Dandakaranya. The 201 families are being. let down as others are being let down. I living in tents still. They have been only am not concerned with the provincial part of shifted from tne camps in Calcutta to the it, but some irregular methods are being used. camps in the Dandakaranya area. That is all Then come the petrol dumps—they were the difference we find there. Now for these supplying petrol to the trucks, jeeps and so tents they have spent fifty lakhs of rupees, and on. They were not given their dues. There is I am told they bought hessian from a British some petrol dump where, I am told, there had firm. Each tent, I am told, has cost between been a hunger strike. I am told that they must Rs. 2,000 and Rs. 3,000. The engineers be paid as otherwise they will go on hunger suggested that it would be much cheaper if strike. they had built some tin sheds—the cost would be less. And these tents are very bad. Tents do Children of the age group of 8, 9'' and 10 not give the necessary protection, nnd in years are made to do manual' work. summer it is extremely difficult to live there. Carpenters have gone there; they have been Then, Sir, wages have been reduced from asking for equipment, but nobody provides Rs. 25 to Rs. 15, wages for cutting a 1,000 them with the equipment at all. cubic feet of earth. Wage reduction has taken place. Then, as you know, the other day there was a strike there by 5 or 10 people. He says that Then there are the tractors ind they are discontent is there. The people who had gone lying idle and the tractors, as you know, have there. been brought from the 2533 Dandakaranya [ RAJYA SABHA ] Project 2534 [Shri Bhupesh Gupta.] are thoroughly fore that under the Commission of Inquiry Act disappointed. They were promised so many there should be a commission of inquiry to go things, as I had described earlier. They asked into this whole project business. It is directly for food and they have been given stone. That under the Centre and Parliament should is the thing. That is how the position is, and enquire into it and Parliament should appoint a we do not know where exactly they stand. competent Authority to go into the whole question from the beginning to the end as to Then a large number of officers are there. , how the matter has been over the last two and Well, many of them are engaged in all kinds a half years or so. It is important, important of activities. Some of the activities I will not from the point of view of the public, important divulge here, because it will not be in good from the point of view of the rehabilitation of taste to do so. I have been informed from very displaced persons, important from the point of reliable sources that such things are indulged view of public finance, important in the larger in in the jungle area, a lot of adventure. context of the development of our economy. Opportunity for adventure is there, I am told, Now the Minister will make a speech and he and people do a little adventure in such will try to explain it away, but I would request matters. Then what is the position? the hon. Members not to be taken in by such a thing but to accept the suggestion for a proper Now he has accepted and he has said that enquiry. I shall be satisfied' if a proper enquiry the camps will not be closed; he said earlier is held and a report is given in which case I that the refugee camps in Bengal would not be would not have to come with contradictory closed on July 31st. Even so the doles had facts like that. But we want something. All the been cut; there is no question of restoration of newspapers, the 'Statesman', the 'Amrita Bazar cuts; in some cases they may have. But they Patrika', the 'Ananda Bazar Patrika' and all the cut the doles. Not only that; persecution was Bengal papers which were speaking in support also started. On the basis of their of that Dandakaranya project are all now announcement that the people would be taken bitterly criticising the manner in which the there they smelt that some people were whole thing has been handled. Photographs are obstructing and they started persecuting the being published in a paper like the 'Jugantar'. camp refugees, cut their doles and so on. And Shri Tarun Kanti Ghosh's father is the now they stand condemned by their own proprietor of this paper, and Tarun Kanti performance. They had to declare that it Ghosh is the Minister there. It is no would not be possible for them to receive all Communist paper at all. Here you see the these refugees in the Dandakaranya area. pictures and they give the very heart-rending Therefore the date-line for the closure of the tales, and how the matter is being handled. I camps was given up. It was good it was given say these pictures should evoke human up. We demanded that there should not be a sympathy and human compassion. date-line for the closure of the camps and that Rehabilitation is a problem which requires the camps should continue as long as we did above all human sympathy and compassion. not make proper alternative arrangements. But the administration lacks human sympathy That is the position. All through there has and compassion. It tries to hide its position by been bungling. raising political bogeys, by accusing the I would ask hon. Members—you have opposition party, by saying all kinds of things sanctioned thirty crores of rupees for ten against others, against other people except years—it is for you to see how things are themselves. That is how they are doing it now. going on there. Now do not think that I am making a political speech. Not at all. It has nothing to do with politics. I demand there- 2535 Dandakaranya I 1 SEP. 1959 ] _Project 2536 bir, as lar as the authorities are ] than 30 per cent, or so. This labour should be concerned, there is another thing and let me settled in that area of Dandakaranya. This is tell you what has happened. It was decided, I more important. Engineers and other think, at a Cabinet meeting in West Bengal technicians, if necessary, out of the displaced and in accordance with the decisions arrived persons, should be taken to that area. at in Calcutta on the 4th July, 1958, in which the Finance Minister, the Law Minister and SHRI MEHR CHAND KHANNA: What is the Rehabilitation Minister from the the percentage of landless labour in West Government of India were present and Dr. B. Bengal? C. Roy and Mr. P. C. Sen were also present, certain decisions were taken. Now all these SHRI BHUPESH GUPTA: In West Bengal things have been by-passed—I do not know it is 21 per cent, or a little more. I do agree what is wrong. Mr. Khanna the other day that there is shortage of land in West Bengal. said that he was the authority, but we were But our contention has been that it is possible told initially that he was not the authority. to reclaim land and develop industries in We were told that the Dandakaranya certain undeveloped areas thereby resettling Development Authority would be an the entire lot of camp refugees in West autonomous authority. Autonomous Bengal itself. authority derives power directly from Parliament. The Minister may be responsible MR. DEPUTY CHAIRMAN: That will do, for answering questions or handling certain Mr. Bhupesh Gupta. matters, but here an autonomous authority is also being by-passed. Now this is the SHRI BHUPESH GUPTA: Your industrial position. schemes have failed. You started sixteen industrial schemes, but all of them failed. You Finally, Sir, I have my last word about gave them money. We warned you not to give it. We feel that the people could be money to the capitalists because they will not rehabilitated in West Bengal if proper implement the schemes. Now Dr. B. iC. Roy p'ans were worked out. Now Dr. B. C. Roy is thinking of starting prosecution against has himself expressed the view and if I them. Four years ago we warned them. What give his words, it will be better. is important today is to work out schemes of resettlement within West Bengal itself. Given "The desire of a Bengali to live in the desire, given the resources, it is possible. West Bengal is appreciated and The Centre should help in this matter. As far understandable." as the development of the Dandakaranya area is concerned, it should be handled at the i I share that view of his, but I do not like highest level—the National Development that these sentiments should be given up, Council, the Planning Commission and other because there is some flaw somewhere. competent authorities—with the cooperation Many schemes were submitted to the of the State. Having regard to the resources, Government last year by the United we should proceed to develop that area. But Central Rehabilitation Committee in West that is a bigger question which should not be Bengal, but they brushed them aside. They confused with the narrow question of would not sit with them, discuss with them rehabilitation of the displaced persons in and see the possibilities of rehabilitation of Dandakaranya. As far as Dandakaranya is displaced persons in West Bengal. It is concerned, Mr. M. C. Khanna, the very important that we direct our attention Rehabilitation Minister, stands condemned to this problem. both by his words and by actions. He owes an Again, in Bihar and Orissa there is 19 explanation to the Members of Parliament as per cent, landless labour. In other parts of India, I am told, it is more 31 RSD—5 2537 Dandakaranya [ RAJYA SABHA ] Project 2538 Lt>nri iinupesn uupta.j to why there has Pakistan in Dandakaranya have now almost been such a big gap between his spoken vanished. In the meantime what has words and performance. There are many other happened? matters, which I could not bring to the notice of the House but which should be gone into. Sir, for years and years people were kept in camps and crores and crores of rupees were MR. DEPUTY CHAIRMAN: Motion spent over these people without any benefit to moved: them, without any rehabilitation or anything of the kind. Now in the meantime, we see that "That the Dandakaranya Project for the people have been removed from the camps in rehabilitation of displaced persons from big numbers, not to Dandakaranya, but to East Pakistan and its implementation be other areas. I come from U.P. They have sent taken into consideration." a very big number there. But what is the position of these East Bengal refugees in Two hours is the time allotted and Mr. U.P.? The U.P. Government reclaimed a big Bhupesh Gupta has already taken 32 minutes. area in Nainital district some years ago and We have now got 1 hour and 28 minutes. I ex-Servicemen and political sufferers were have got six names with me, excluding the allotted land for settling down there. Each Minister. So, it comes to 8 to 10 minutes for family was given 15 acres of land. After some each speaker, half-an-hour for the Minister years, when a good number of the East Bengal and 10 minutes for the reply. refugees were brought down to the Terai area o'f Nainital, they were given land, but only 8 SHRI NIRANJAN SINGH (Madhya acres per family. Pradesh): I have not given the name. SHRI MEHR CHAND KHANNA: Which year are you referring to? MR. DEPUTY CHAIRMAN: Dr. Shrimati Seeta Parmanand. She is not here. Mr. Jogesh SHRI J. C. CHATTERJI: I am referring to Chandra Chatterji. Not more than 10 minutes the first batches when they were sent to each. Nainital.

SHRI J. C. CHATTERJI (Uttar Pradesh): SHRI MEHR CHAND KHANNA: You Mr. Deputy Chairman, Sir, last year, while mean 1949-50, ten years ago. speaking on the Dandakaranya Project, I was all praise for the great expectations that were roused by the big propaganda carried on on SHRI J. C. CHATTERJI: Not so many behalf of the Dandakaranya Project. But now years, it is only a few years ago. the whole thing has taken a different turn altogether. The camps were to be abolished SHRI MEHR CHAND KHANNA: How from West Bengal and people were to be many years ago? removed to Dandakaranya in big numbers. But what has happened in the meantime? Now SHRI J. C. CHATTERJI: I do not think any there is a fresh announcement that the dead- person was sent in 1950. line ls gone and there are now new arrange- ments for the acquisition of land. With all MR. DEPUTY CHAIRMAN: Anyway, these things the whole atmosphere has been we are now concerned with the Dandakaranya changed. The high hopes entertained by the Project. Let us not go • into extraneous people about the rehabilitation of D.Ps. from things. East SHRI J. C. CHATTERJI: As Dandakaranya could not be arranged they have been diverted to U.P. 2539 Dandakaranya [ 1 SEP. 1959 ] Project 254O

MR. DEPUTY CHAIRMAN: That was persons from East Pakistan the whole affair long before Dandakaranya was conceived of. has been going on in such a way that there has not been any proper rehabilitation on behalf of SHRI J. C. CHATTER JI: Very the Government. Some people who had come recently big numbers have been sent to U.P. from there earlier have settled themselves in Two batches were sent to Pilibhit and Bijnor Calcutta, and their number is very small— and these people have been given only 4 acres about 20,000 people. Whenever I happen to of land per family, whereas, as Mr. Bhupesh go there, I try to collect all the facts there. Gupta quoted, the West Bengal Rehabilitation Even now I know, Sir, that out of these Minister declared that they were to be given 20,000 people a big number of them have 21 bighas per family in Dandakaranya. constructed their own houses and have acquired certain lands by force, and now they SHRI MEHR CHAND KHANNA: Twenty- have got certain rights in most of those lands. one bighas? Seven acres per family. (Time bell rings.) In the matter of employment, Sir, they are not getting any SHRI J. C. CHATTERJI: Seven benefit. People there have even to starve. That acres, but not 4 acres, whereas the U.P. is the condition of those people who are Government gave 15 acres to ex-soldiers and already settled there. A large number of them political sufferers. have to live in those camps with very small SHRI V. PRASAD RAO (): doles or sometimes no doles at all. Now we That is a privileged class. find this propaganda about Dandakaranya. A very adverse feeling has been brought to bear SHRI J. C. CHATTERJI: So, now, Sir, only against the authorities concerned. I am sorry a few hundred people have been sent to for that, because it gives no credit to those Dandakaranya. who are in charge of these things. (Time bell rings.) Thank you, Sir. SHRI BHUPESH GUPTA: Two hundred and one families have been SHRI HARIHAR PATEL (Orissa): Mr. Deputy Chairman, Sir, coming myself from SHRI J. C. CHATTERJI: And even they the State of Orissa, I must thank the Central have not been properly settled down. Government for having taken up this Project Formerly, Sir, there was a news broadcast that inasmuch as its primary objectives are, firstly, people from different parts of India wanted to to develop certain undeveloped area, and go over there. But now we learn that because secondly, to rehabilitate the displaced persons Orissa and Madhya Pradesh Governments are from East Pakistan. The mover of the motion not ready to take any people from any other also said something about these two aspects. parts, it has been decided that only the East He did admit that the development of that Pakistan refugees would be taken there. And undeveloped area was the main objective. But what is the arrangement? Sir, 25 per cent, of he spoke much about the other aspect, i.e., the reclaimed land will be given to the local rehabilitation of the displaced persons. And tribals and 75 per cent, will be given to the that is but natural for him. Anyway, I could East Bengal displaced persons. Formerly, Sir, not understand one or two things in his 30 thousand families were to be removed to speech. Dandakaranya. Now the latest figure is 20 thousand families, that is to say, in the He said that telling the refugees that their meantime, 10 thousand families must have doles which are being given to them would been transferred to some areas outside West be stopped unless they Bengal. On the whole, Sir, we see that in the matter of rehabilitation of displaced 2541 Dandakaranya [ RAJYA.SABHA ] Project 2542 [Shri Harihar Patel.] were willing to go to any project to be carried out in the different that area was nothing but a threat to them. I States of India, it does pay some attention to the could not understand it. After all, Sir, some respective States in the matter of employment day or the other, these doles have got to be opportunities, etc. But that is not done in the stopped. Then why not be prepared to go and case of Orissa. There is the Plant; settle down there? I do not think that it was there is the Hirakud Dam, but we find that the propter on his part to have taken it as some people of Orissa are being neglected in regard threat to the refugees. to this matter. That is so in the case of Dandakaranya also. In the matter of high and Then, Sir, about the undeveloped area low posts, as well, Sir, the people of Orissa do being developed, I would like to say that that not find much place. That is the reason why area is really undeveloped. It is full of rich they are not much enthused towards this mineral deposits. It has got some iron ore Project. I would, therefore, request the hon. reserves which are the richest in the world. Minister to look into this ' matter and do the Therefore, it has got great potentialities for needful, ,because unless, somehow or other, development. I think the Government should these projects enthuse the people of the always have an eye oyer the uprooted localities concerned, I think the whole purpose humanity in that area. I am sorry to point out of such projects would be frustrated. Thank that not much attention is being given to that you, Sir. aspect of the question. Those uprooted people move about helplessly like orphans and DR. NALINAKSHA DUTT (West nobody looks to their eomforts and nobody Bengal): Mr. Deputy Chairman, Sir, my hon. bothers about their settlement. friend, Mr. Bhupesh Gupta, has raised a very important issue, relating particularly to West SHRI MEHR CHAND KHANNA: Bengal, for discussion this afternoon. He has Uprooted by whom? rather been very much against the present Ministry, as he thinks that the Central SHRI HARIHAR PATEL: Uprooted Government or the Planning Commission or because of this Project. the National Development Council would have done much better in the matter of SHRI MEHR CHAND KHANNA: Not a rehabilitation than the present Ministry. single person has been uprooted as a SHRI BHUPESH GUPTA: Sir, I did not say consequence of this Project. that I said that they should have taken it up. SHRI HARIHAR PATEL: Sir, people from all over India are going there and they are DR. NALINAKSHA DUTT: Actually, Sir, purchasing lands there from certain people for the present Ministry was created a few years very small prices. Lots of things like that are ago. At first, Sir, the displaced persons in appearing in the newspapers. Anyway, I West Bengal were getting very little attention would like the hon. Minister to look into that from the Central Government. They were matter. Sir, the Government are rehabilitating given aids and doles and also house-building these displaced persons, and at tht same time, loans and business loans, but these were if they neglect such people of that area, I don't either being frittered away or were being think that such a thing can ever go to the eaten up. Huge sums were spent on them but credit of that particular Project. they were not being properly rehabilitated and what happened was that the loans mostly Then, Sir, I have got another complaint to went to persons who were already in West make. Whenever the Central Government Bengal for quite a long time because has any scheme or 2543 Dandakaranya I 1 SEP. 1959 ] Project 2544 they came long before partition. There was a task. This area covers not any one State. It continuous process of people coming in and extends over four States— U.P., Orissa, going back and it was not possible to do portions of Bombay and also Andhra, anything positive for these displaced persons covering about 80,000 square miles which is before the creation of the new Ministry, I more than two and a half times the area of would say that after the creation of this new West Bengal. Naturally such a big area, when Ministry, things are better organised and the it was announced, gave good cicouragement displaced persons in WVst Bengal are getting to the Bengalees. In the first place it was certain schemes and definite help. So I would planned to develop only the districts of Bastar not say that it would be better to take away in Madhya Pradesh, and Kalahandi in the power from the present Ministry and give Orissa, an area of about 30,000 square miles, it to the National Development) Council. of which 16,000 square miles are covered by Before this Ministry, forests. Regarding the suitability of the land what were the displaced persons doing? They for crops, as recommended by the Committee, generally squatted on vacant lands or on it is comparable to Bengal but the climate, whatever they could get and that created a though similar, is not good because the place great deal of difficulty for the local residents. is full of malaria and black fever and some Somehow these squatters were legalized in say, filaria also. The trouble is, Dandakaranya their action by legislation and now they have is not yet quite healthy for rehabilitation and become de jure owners. It was after a long to expect . . . time that the Central Government warmed up and made their best efforts for rehabilitating SHRI BHUPESH GUPTA: Then they could the displaced persons in the different States, be settled in the heavens. as West Bengal was already over-full at that time. I do not think there is any scope for further rehabilitation in West Bengal because SHRI V. PRASAD RAO: Man-eaters are the area is so small. Some of the refugee there . . . movements that were started in Bengal insisted that the refugees should all stay in DR. NALINAKSHA DUTT: It will be West Bengal The density of population is made a heaven within 10 years. In two years I already 1,000 per square mile and even then, do not think you can build even a house, not in spite of this density, our Chief Minister has to speak of a factory. Therefore to expect been able to promise rehabilitation to within two years the development of a coun- 10,000 camp try is almost an impossible task but the families out of 45,000 camp families and out Government had Put in very great efforts so of these 10,000 families he has been able that it showed some improvement, but it is already to provide rehabilitation for 5,000 and really an absurd proposition to expect that a the balance will be rehabilitated very soon. forsaken land should be developed so soon, besides it had no communication facilities Now coming to the Dandakaranya scheme like the railways, no river routes, no good which is the subject of the present discussion, roads. With these handicaps, how can we I say that the idea of this Dandakaranya expect that the land will be developed in six scheme came into the mind of our planners, months or will be a heaven for the displaced or members of the Planning Commission, and persons? If. a heaven was possible to be others here in June 1957 and today is August made, there would have been many people 1959. Just two years have passed. Now, who would have gone . . . within two years to reclaim a traditionally ancient forest area is v'most an SHRI BHUPESH GUPTA: I say they impossible would die of malaria and they could go to heaven. 2545 Dandhkaranya [ RAJYA SABHA ] Project 2546

DR. NALINAKSHA DUTT; The main getting local contractors and building cause of the delay has already been analysed materials but this can be overcome only if the by the Ministry. The main cause is that there Government will reduce red-tapism. I do not was difficulty in the procurement of land and think there will be any lack of small of land reclaiming machinery. There was also contractors who will take up this work if th?y difficulty in getting suitable personnel, both get payment promptly. So I am hoping that the technical and administrative and, also Government would be able, very soon, to providing them with office and residence. make the area habitable and I wish the There was also difficulty in collection of road- Government had concentrated their attention making and building materials and also lack not on all the three areas but on one area, Bas- of contractors and experienced workers. Over tar, and made it attractive for the other and above this, there was the greatest refugees to go there. Out of t these 35,000 handicap, the lack of cooperation from the families it is a fact that only a few have gone State Governments in whose jurisdiction these there but I wish even these had not gone there. areas were located. I think the present For, they will be rather disappointed and that Ministry has crossed its biggest hurdle by get- will act as a discouragement to the migration ting the co-operation from two States, of displaced families in future. Madhya Pradesh and Orissa, which have now The present trouble was that our Minister promised to allocate at least 2,16,000 acres from Madhya Pradesh and Orissa out of made a declaration that by the 31st July the which only 61,000 acres are to be obtained camps would be closed biit now he has come from Madhya Pradesh within October 1959 out with another statement saying that he did and 8,000 acres from Orissa and another not mean it literally. It was meant to give 30,000 acres by February 1960. That shows some encouragement and to make the that in spite of the best efforts of the Ministry, displaced persons self-reliant. Everybody it will get by the end of this year or the knew that it was an impossible task to provide beginning of next year, barely 160 square 35,000 families with land and all amenities. miles as against the scheme for 80,000 square So we should have understood it in that light. miles. So the whole scheme boils down from Now, after the second 4 P.M. announcement, I 80,000 to 160 square miles. So the criticism do not think Mr. Gupta should find fault with that is being now made by my friend and also him. He has already admitted it. by the public is *Why should the Government All that I want to add is that along with the announce with a fan-fare that they were going refugees, the landless labourers of West to give us 80,000 square miles?' I believe this Bengal should also be allowed to go and was meant as an encouragement and to dispel settle there. These landless labourers have the despondency that has already overcome or been further made landless by some of thr- spread all over Bengal. Now we can say that East Pakistan people who have come with the present scheme starts with a solid nucleus money and have purchased lands at high of 160 square miles. It is quite a fair area for prices from them. The West Bengal landless development and for rehabilitation of the labourers, the landless peasants, should be displaced persons. Now some of the taken to Dandakaranya. They are quite hardy difficulties which were hampering this and I think that they will be aDle to improve development have been overcome like the Iand. procurement of mechanical units, tractors and MR. DEPUTY CHAIRMAN: There are other things. Also the Government have been four more speakers. I think the House will able to get some technical and administrative have to sit half-an-hour extra, till 5.30 P.M. staff. The difficulty seems to be with regard to

2547 Dandakaranya [ 1 SEP. 1959 ] Project 2548

2549 Dandakaranya [ RAJYA SABHA ] Project 2550

2551 Dandakaranya [ 1 SEP. 1959 J Project 2552 as a rehabilitation centre for these displaced persons from East Pakistan. That, to my mind, is the most important point, the most important principle that has to be decided first and on it, will depend the growth and development of the Dandakaranya project.

Now, the first question that would naturally arise is, are these displaced persons willing to go to Dandakaranya? I would put a simple question to Mr. Gupta. Is he willing to per- suade them to go to Dandakaranya? Has he ever advocated that these people should go to Dandakaranya? That is the main point that ha9 to be considered. Sir, it is one thing to say, 'well, we do not object if they go to Dandakaranya voluntarily,' but it is another thing to persuade them to go there and make it a centre of rehabilitation. SHRI BIBUDHENDRA MISRA (Orissa): SHRI BHUPESH GUPTA: Do I understand Mr. Deputy Chairman, Sir, in a langugae that that the hon. Member's contention is that, is high flown, Mr. Bhupesh Gupta has shed when the Government has issued instructions tears—I do not say crocodile tears—over the not to send anybody, we should go and tell sad lot of the displaced persons from East the West Bengal Government, 'send Pakistan. somebody'? SHRI MEHR CHAND KHANNA: Sir, let SHRI BIBUDHENDRA MISRA: I am him come forward. talking about the history. The Government has said that now only for the time being. It is a MR. DEPUTY CHAIRMAN: Please come before the mike. temporary measure. I am talking about the history of the past four or five years. Why was SHRI BIBUDHENDRA MISRA: Sir, he has Dandakaranya not been a success so far" tried to create a smoke screen and has levelled What has been the attitude of the political many charges against the Ministry of parties regarding resettlement under the Rehabilitation and the two main charges are Dandakaranya project? What political that the development of the Dandakaranya advantages are being tried to be taken out of this refugee problem—it i$ to this aspect that project has not been according to the schedule, I am trying to draw the attention of the House. that the required progress has not been The main cry of the Communist Party—not achieved, and that the target number of only inside the legislatures, in both Houses of families of 30,000 have not moved to that but Parliament, but also on the public platforms rather that the number is very small. It is and in the Press—has been that these refugees undoubtedly true that there ought to be a should not be taken out of West Bengal and discussion as to whether Dandakaranya is they have been responsible for generating progressing according to the schedule or not. some sort of a feeling among the refugees that It is important also to know whether there has they should not move out of been any delay or maladministration there but to my mind it appears, so far as this discussion is concerned, it is only secondary. The most important point is whether it is agreed and accepted tha J Dandakaranya will be developed

2553 Dandakaranya [ RAJYA SABHA ] Project 2554 [Shri Bibudhendra Misra.] West Bengal. many cases desertion had taken place me very Through Press and platform they have day after the people had got into the camps, in generated that feeling among them and how many cases desertion had taken place whether it is proper or improper is a matter after these people had received money for to which I am coming shortly. If there is specific purposes and in how many cases ficti- enough land in West Bengal for these tious claims have been made. Let him collect displaced persons to be rehabilitated, let the these data and I will request him to place them West Bengal Chief Minister come forward, on the Table. Sir, it will show whether there let the West Bengal Governmenst come was coercion on the part of the Government or forward and say that they are prepared to whether these people were induced to coerce take them in and that there is enough land the Government. I am not so much concerned for them. In that case I do not see why the with the scheduled development of the Government of India, or for that matter, Dandakaranya project for the time being anybody should have any objection to it. because what is important is, before we sink Today my friend, Mr. Bhupesh Gupta, more money into it, the principle should be quoted some statement of the Chief Minister decided. I do not understand the continuance of West Bengal expressing sympathy for the of these camps. It is well known and Mr. natural feeling of a Bengali to be in Bengal. Bhupesh Gupta has also agreed that the camps It is one thing to express sympathy to a should not be continued indefinitely without feeling and it is all right to have that feeling, damaging the character and vitality of those but it is another thing to give effect to that people. Some attention has to be paid to feeling in view of the practical situation. resettle these persons. What is the arrangement Does it mean that the statement of Dr. B. C. that you are going to suggest? I do not find Roy, the Chief Minister of West Bengal, can any suggestion coming from any quarter by any stretch of imagination imply that excepting opposition to the proposals that there is land in West Bengal available for come from the Government. There is no resettlement and that he is willing to take constructive suggestion coming forth from them in? Sir, I must congratulate the anywhere. Sir, there ought to be some Government of India that it tried to meet suggestions about the resettlement of these very bravely the unfortunate aftermath of the people. Whereas on the one hand there is this but it is most unfortunate insistence that they should not go out of West that some political parties for political Bengal, on the other hand there is this problem purposes have been exploiting the situation of the continuance of these camps and making and have been putting hurdles all along. If the refugees live on doles for all time. And you look into the past, you will find that there is this propaganda: there is the bugbear before this Dandakaranya project came into of Dandakaranya project. Do not go there. It is being the different States set up camps in malarial; it is filarial and there are no their areas and took these displaced persons communications and so on. Sir, what is more in those camps. At that time their puzzling is that these should be backed up by propaganda was against those States, that a political party wedded to hammer and sickle. there was maladministration and that they I am surprised that these people want were apathetic because the refugees were everything ready made. The plan was that they outsiders. There were scathing criticisms should be partners in the development of the levelled against those States that willingly Dandakaranya project: the blueprint clearly took these displaced persons. I know shows that. They have to take part in the something about the affairs in the camps of construction of roads, in the building Orissa. I request the Rehabilitation Minister to collect data and to find out the facts as to in how i 2555 Dandakaranya [ 1 SEP. 1959 ] Project 2556

of houses, in the setting up of camps, in the from East Pakistan if they do not go, but for setting up of schools. If the people do not take the local inhabitants as set out in the directive part in the scheme, in the construction of principles of the scheme. Thank you. these things, and if they want that the Government should give them everything ready made, that they should be satisfied first before going, I do not understand how the Government can be blamed if these people do not go there.

Then, I would refer in this connection to a unanimous resolution that was passed by the West Bengal legislature. It was moved by a Congress member who was then the Secretary of the Provincial Congress Committee. They demanded that in the finalisation of the Dandakaranya scheme the different groups and parties of the West Bengal Assembly should be consulted and that in the administration cif the Dandakaranya project the West Bengal Government should have an adequate majority. I do not impute any motive; I do not blame anybody. I have got every respect for this 'august body here which has as its members quite high-ranking dignitaries, great intellectuals and selfless patriots. I do not understand, if this problem is a national problem, why this scheme should be administered by a State Government. If it is a national problem, why should the different groups of the State Government be consulted excluding the rest of India? Sir, that, to my mind, does not take us anywhere nearer the solution. It is high time that the Ministry of Rehabilitation gave up its soft attitude. They should take a firm attitude in this matter. Let these displaced persons be asked to shift to Dandakaranya by a definite date. (Time bell rings.) Let a dead line be fixed If the Government is unable to do that, if they are unable to take steps to take these displaced persons to Dandakaranya, it is better that before wasting further money they review the project again. I am all for development; develop it not as a rehabilitation centre for the displaced persons

2557 Dandakaranya [ RAJYA SABHA ] Project 2558

2559 Dandakaranya [ 1 SEP. 1959 ] Project 2560

2561 Dandakaranya [ RAJYA SABHA ] Project 2562 [Shri Jaspat Roy Kapoor] tated there. Now, is it possible, Sir, that Minister and his Ministry, that this about a lakh of persons can be rehabilitated scheme was progressing rather slowly, only in industries in West Bengal? One I thought we would apply our minds who makes that suggestion seems to me to seriously to this question and make be an absolutely unpractical person. some constructive suggestions as to how best this scheme could be fur The hon. Chief Minister of West Bengal, thered and how easily and how effec Dr. B. C. Roy, about the middle of 1958 tively we could make it a success. I during the course of a meeting of the must confess, Sir, that I have been Rehabilitation Ministers frankly said that sorely disappointed in that hope, for there was not enough land in West Bengal. during the long speech of my hon. Not only that, he also said that he could not friend, Mr. Bhupesh Gupta, I could rehabilitate all these refugees in West not And one single constructive sug Bengal and that therefore about 20,000 gestion made by him as to how this families at least should be rehabilitated in scheme could be made a successful Dandakaranya. one and in the shortest possible time. In a House like this which is said to Now, Sir, one could say of my hon. friend, be a House of elders...... the Rehabilitation Minister, that he always speaks in a free, franfc and candid manner— SHRI BHUPESH GUPTA: It is too old. just the virtues that we find in sturdy, straightforward Pathans. He never minces SHRI JASPAT ROY KAPOOR: .... I think matters. If he has not been able to do well we should always apply our mind in a with regard to the particular project, he constructive way. What after all was the frankly admits it and takes us all into his object behind this motion of my hon. friend, confidence. Sir, may I for the information of Mr. Bhupesh Gupta? Was it only to give us the House—this may not be a new the facts relating to the slow progress of this information—remind them that on the 5th scheme which had already been given to us August, 1959 he has circulated a note on the by the Minister and the Ministry, much before progress of Dandakaranya to all of us wherein from now? Was it to condemn the Ministry he has said all that Mr. Bhupesh Gupta has simply or was it to help the displaced persons repeated here? I wish Mr. Bhupesh Gupta had from East Pakistan? ,If the latter were the spared us all that because we knew from this object, he should have told us how this circular that has been circulated all that he has problem could be solved. He has not done repeated, The Rehabilitation Minister had also so. given in the circular the difficulties that he had had to face and the reasons why there was Sir, I And that ultimately Mr. Bhupesh slow progress in this scheme, the more Gupta has said that these people rather than important of the reasons being: delay in being sent to Dandakaranya should be procuring mechanised units for reclamation rehabilitated in West Bengal itself. That only work; difficulties in securing administrative seems to be the motive of my hon. friend, Mr. and technical staff for project operation; lack Bhupesh Gupta. But then he did not of good local contractors; difficulty of specifically say how these people could be communication; and on the top of it all, rehabilitated there. He said that we may start difficulties In securing release of land from industries. Even he does not claim that there the local interests. These were difficulties, Sir, is land enough in Bengal for all these 20,000 which the Ministry could not easily surmount. families which are proposed to be taken to These were reasons beyond I the control of Dandakaranya; even he does not claim that the Rehabilitation Minis- there is land enough for these people to be rehabili- 2563 Dandakaranya I 1 SEP. 1959 1 Project 2564. ter and his Ministry. What we should do now written to the Frime Minister, tnai u was too is to consider what steps should be taken so ambitious a scheme, impossible of fulfilment. that this scheme may be furthered and the Now, may I in all humility ask Mr. Bhupesh East Pakistan refugees may be rehabilitated in Gupta, if he knew it then that this was a task this beautiful area which has been rightly impossible of fulfilment in one year, why claimed to be a heaven on earth—if not today, need he be disappointed today? He knew it at least it will be so after some time when it then and I say it correctly. And I am sure the has become a settlement of the displaced Rehabilitation Ministers in the middle of 1958 persons from East Pakistan. My hon. friend, also knew that the project which they were Mr. Bhupesh Gupta, smiles. Well, I am devising—this target—was too ambitious, and prepared to admit that this can be converted their only intention perhaps was to give top into a piece of heaven on earth only if Satan priority to the completion of this scheme. is not allowed to interfere with the affairs Their only intention seems to have been that a there. sense of urgency should be created among all concerned that this scheme must be fulfilled SHRI BHUPESH GUPTA: After we pass with the utmost earnestness possible, and that out from here we shall go to Dandakaranya. is what they did. Now, if they could not achieve greater success, the fault is not theirs, but it is because of circumstances beyond SHRI MEHR CHAND KHANNA: In their control. We must judge the Ministry not saying Satan he is not referring to you. by the result, but by their efforts. i This scheme is a difficult one no doubt, but SHRI JASPAT ROY KAPOOR: One thing it holds out very fine prospects and I could do should not be forgotten and that is that no better than quote in this respect what the initially, according to the original programme, Ministry itself has said in one of its these 20,000 families were not to be shifted pamphlets. within the course of one year only. The whole scheme was conceived about the 9th of "Dandakaranya presents a great November, 1957. And later on, when this challenge and a promise of great rewards. scheme was intended to be put into practice, it Only those may reap the harvest who are at was thought that in about three or four years' the same time prepared to shoulder the time, about 18,000 families might be shifted. burden of work." Sir, I have before me a note on the Dandakaranya Scheme, dated April, 1958, and The only thing that I want to suggest which on page 9 we find that according to the might be a little helpful to the Ministry is, this original scheme, in three years, about 18,000 scheme being a very difficult one for displaced families were to be rehabilitated. implementation and the area being a very But in the middle of 1958 when there was a difficult one, is it not worthwhile considering meeting of the Rehabilitation Ministers, it was whether some displaced persons from the decided that because of the urgency of the west, a few sturdy farmers from the west, a problem, within the course of one year, if few sturdy industrialists from the west, be possible, about 20.000 families should be requested to go over to that place and do a shifted there. Well, everybody, I am sure, little pioneering work with a view to serving knew then that this was an impossible task, the displaced persons from East Pakistan? and at least my hon. friend, Mr. Bhupesh They might be asked to show them the way of Gupta, knew it full well then, as he has even bringing forest Isnds under cultivation, they today said that this was an impossible task. may show them the way of starting small Not only that, we found him today saying that industries there. I hope he had

2565 Dandakaranya L RAJYA SABHA ] Project 2566 [Shri Jaspat Roy Kapoor.] I wil] not be SHRI V. PRASAD RAO: And also misunderstood. Selected persons—expert man-eaters. agriculturists and sturdy industrialists—may be sent there more in a missionary spirit than SHRI MEHR CHAND KHANNA: ... and with a view to gaining something therefrom. also mining facilities. The Governments of The Ministry might take Into consideration Madhya Pradesh and Orissa have been there. this suggestion which I have got to make. Their problems have been there. Why is it that Dandakaranya, in spite of the fact that it has Having said this, I would like to been there for so long and in spite of the fact congratulate the Ministers and the Ministry that we are in the ninth year of our two Plans for the good work that they have been able to has never been attempted so far? Sir, if it was do so far despite the shortcomings and despite an easy area, if it was not a difficult project, the fact that the targets have not been main- then with the density of population being what tained and not achieved so far. Our hope is it is in India today, with the food problem, that better luck and better success will attend with the land problem and with the problem of their efforts here-.after. landless labourers, this project would have been attempted a long time ago. This project has been left untouched. And why have I SHRI MEHR CHAND KHANNA: Mr. taken it up? Sir, I have been living in Bengal Deputy Chairman, Sir, I am sincerely grateful —shall I say in Calcutta—for nearly five years to Mr. Bhupesh Gupta for having brought this now. For five years I have been intimately Motion before the House. I have listened to connected with the problem of the him with great attention, and he has con- rehabilitation of displaced persons from East demned the work of this Ministry in fairly Pakistan in West Bengal, , , strong terms. I hope to deal with some of the Bihar and Orissa. It might interest the House points that he has raised, but my main object to know that since partition took place, that is in thanking him is that he has been able to twelve years ago, 41-17 lakh displaced provide me with an opportunity to discuss this persons have come from East Pakistan. Of very important scheme, and to remove the them, 1025 lakhs have gone into camps. One misunderstandings which have been created out of every four persons that have come from within the State of West Bengal, among the East Pakistan has found a place in the camps displaced persons and in certain other set up by the Government of India from the •quarters, consciously or unconsciously, very beginning and being maintained up till deliberately or otherwise, maybe not solely today. Sir, these camps have cost us up till from the viewpoint of the rehabilitation of now in the shape of relief expenditure over displaced persons from Pakistan, maybe from fiftyflve crores of rupees. Sir, now the camp the viewpoint of the rehabilitation of some population is not the same as it was during the political parties. peak period—I am giving the figures presently. It will further interest you and the Sir, we have to consider what provoked the House to know, Sir, that up till the year 1952, Dandakaranya scheme. Dandakaranya is a 33 lakh displaced persons came from East primeval forest; it has been there from the Pakistan. Of them 6J lakhs went into the times of the Ramayana. Most people know camps, that is, about 20 per cent., one out of that the area comprises 80,000 square miles. It every five. During the years 1953 and 1954 is also known that it is thick with jungles. two lakhs came. Sixty thousand went into the There 'are minerals; there are roads . . . camps, that is, one out of every three 2567 Dandakaranya [ 1 SEP. 1959 j Project 2568 And in the peak years of 1955 and 1956, 570 just saying, about 2,20,000 persons? While in lakh displaced persons came from East other States I have only 6,000 persons. To Pakistan and of them over 3 lakhs went into West Bengal, it is admitted, that a very large the camps, that is, one out of every two number went. But the process of dispersal persons. Sir, I must tell you that we had to from the camps have been very slow, and has look after over ten lakh displaced persons been exceedingly slow towards the latter part, from East Pakistan in the various camps that for the obvious reason that all the vacuum that we have set up in the eastern region. Now, was in West Bengal, in the shape of available Sir, I might be asked to give the break-up lands was filled up and the saturation point between West Bengal and the other States. Of was reached, say, 3 to 4 years ago, and the these 10-25 lakhs 7,93,000 went into the dispersal from these camps has been very camps in West Bengal and about 2,32,000 slow. It might interest you to know, Sir, that into the camps in Tripura, Bihar, Orissa and in the month of June the figures were com- Assam. Now, Sir, in the camps in the States piled and I saw them only yesterday that in outside West Bengal I have on my hands the matter of rehabilitation, with all the today, out of 2,32,000 persons, a total of only efforts, with a big organisation in a very big 15,000, and of these 15,000, 9,000 belong, as State only 500 persons or round about one hundred families could be rehabilitated in the we call them, to the long-term liability, that whole of the month of June. Sir, this is is, unattached women, children, the old and wasteful expenditure. It demoralises the the infirm. Of the remaining population out of people in camps. I admit and concede—I felt a total of over, 2,30,000 persons who had to it and my friends quoted me—that every be rehabilitated in these four States I have possible effort should be made to see that the only 6,000 persons on my hands today. camps are cleared as soon as possible, that these persons who have been living in camps Now, Sir, let me go back to Mr. Bhupesh for years should be rehabilitated. Now, Sir, it Gupta's State. There, Sir, out of the 7,93,000 may be known to Members from Madhya persons who went into the camps I still have Pradesh, Orissa and Bihar—a Member spoke 2:10 lakhs. Of these 2-10 lakhs 50,000 are in and I am grateful to him—that when we took homes and infirmaries, and about a lakh and the displaced persons to those States, in the sixty thousand in camps. Some of these early stages we lacked two things. Firstly we persons have been in camps, not during the could not rehabilitate ^hem in sizeable blocks. last two or three years; they have been there 'The result was that the cultural life, the for the last 6, 7 and 8 years. Now, Sir, the community life of the people who were question arose: What are we to do with these taken'could not be kept intact and then, on 45,000 families who are in camps? It is all account of various difficulties, we could not right for Mr. Bhupesh Gupta and his party or give them sizeable units. There were the U.C.R.C. to indicate that there are lands in desertions. I went round myself to these West Bengal though there are no lands in States; I saw the Chief Ministers and I talked West Bengal for the purpose. to them. They gave me lands. But whether it is U.P. or Bihar or Orissa I could accept only that much area that could be made available to [THE VICE CHAIRMAN (SHRI me. My brother, Mr. Niranjan Singh, said that DAHYABHAI V. PATEL) in the Chair.] it should be seen that in the process of rehabilitation the local population is not Sir, if there were lands in West Bengal why disrupted and I am should I have on my hands in West Bengal today as I was 2569 Dandakaranya f RAJYA SABHA 1 Proiect 2570 [Shri Mehr Chand Khanna.] let down everybody, I have done nothing in not to create a further problem in that State by the scheme, so on and so forth. Sir, the rehabilitating the displaced persons and Authority was created by a Resolution of the disrupting the local population. Thus not large Government of India, dated the 12th areas could be found. Sir, I came across a September, 1958, and published in the report and the report said that there is an area Gazette of India dated the 20th September, called the Dandakaranya where the density of 1958 on page 259. Let me read what the population is small, the vacuum is large and Resolution says: there are large possibilities of undertaking an "For the effective and expeditious integrated project. Sir, I agree with Mr. execution of the scheme to resettle Bhupesh Gupta that as the Minister for displaced persons from East Pakistan in Rehabilitation it is not my concern to develop Dandakaranya, and for the integrate -a project, it should be the concern of some development of this area, with particular other department of the Government of India, regard to the interest of the area's tribal and when an area has been developed, then I population, the Government of India have should take the displaced persons there and decided to set up a central authority to be settle them, as I am doing, for example, in known as the Dandakaranya Development U.P. and other States. But I am grateful for the Authority. confidence placed in me by the Prime Minister and my other colleagues who said: "We are The composition of the Authority shall afraid you will have to take over this project as be as follows:—" well." So this project was entrusted to me. Sir, I could understand a" Sir, it is said that I am not getting the co- man in the street making wild 5 operation of the States. I roughshod over P.M. allegations, but a man, who many things. Even the mere constitution of is a very great friend of mine—we this Authority will convince you and the are very much attached to each other House that all elements, which could be taken privately; we meet each other and, in fact, we into consideration for the handling of a big even help each other in providing material project of this nature, were thought of. The here for the Questions—made certain composition of the Board will bear ample observations which really frightened me. I testimony to that. could never believe that a highly educated "1. The Chairman man like him—unless he was doing it for 2. The Chief Administrator certain ulterior motives or political motives— could have ever in his senses made a 3. The Chief Secretary to the statement that he made. Government of Madhya Pradesh 4. The Chief Secretary to the He talked about the Dandakaranya Government of Orissa". Authority. He talked about arrogating to myself certain authorities and powers which Some hon. Member remarked that there were never vested in me. I created an were three States. Yes, there were three autonomous Board and I am impinging upon States in the original AMPO Committee. We the authority of that Board. May I, with your considered the matter for about two years, but permission, read to you the Resolution of the then we decided to operate only in two States, Government of India, dated the 12th that is, Madhya Pradesh and Orissa. September, 1958? People referred to this Project as three years old, two years old, and "5. A representative of the Union four years old. They have alleged that I Ministry of Home Affairs." have Let me explain why he is there. He is there t0 look after the tribal interest. Then—• 257I Dandakaranya [1 SEP. 1959 ] Project 2572 "6. Member (Finance) sense that a statutory body has been created. I have delegated certain powers to that 7. Member (Engineering) Authority. And, as long as I see that the 8. Member (Agriculture)". Authority is functioning in accordance with This was to be the constitution of the Board the directives of the Government of India in which was created by an order of the the Rehabilitation Ministry—whether it is an Government of India, dated the 12th officer, whether it is a project, they remain September, 1958. It goes on to say: there and the project remains sanctioned. But "The Authority shall have powers to the day I find that certain actions are being create such posts and to appoint done there, there is maladministration, there is such officers and staff thereto...... corruption, there is the allotment of contracts, to sanction schemes involving gov- and there is not the proper safeguarding of the ernment expenditure, not exceeding Rs. interests of the Tribals and others, for whose 40 lakhs, to make direct purchases of all benefit this scheme has been conceived. I machinery, tools and plant, equipment shall see that proper and expeditious action is and vehicles." taken. Now, comes para. 6 of that Resolution. Sir, I felt a little hurt, not for the remarks that were made by Mr. Bhupesh Gupta—I "The Authority will function in was not expecting any bouquets from him accordance with such directions as because we are opposed to each other on it may from time to time receive fundamental basis; the problems which I wish from the Central Government...... to resolve he wishes to keep alive. He wants The Ministry of Rehabilitation will be these camps to be kept alive. administratively in charge of the Authority." SHRI BHUPESH GUPTA: No. Sir, this is the Authority. Under the SHRI MEHR CHAND KHANNA: And he Resolution, I have delegated certain powers wants these people to be kept in West Bengal. to the Authority that I have created for the SHRI BHUPESH GUPTA; And you want integrated development of that area, tfie dual them to be kept alive so that you can purpose being the rehabilitation of displaced continue. persons from East Pakistan and the advancement of the Tribal interest. Sir, SHRI AKBAR ALI KHAN (Andhra every officer that is working there, every Pradesh): No, no. scheme that has been sanctioned there, every SHRI MEHR CHAND KHANNA: Sir, in survey that has been undertaken there, I take spite of the fact that Bengal has reached a full responsibility for it. Dandakaranya is saturation point, in spite of the fact that Dr. the creation of the Government of India, and Roy h&s made repeated references about it, for that purpose the administrative Ministry may I humbly enquire from Shri Bhupesh is the Ministry of Rehabilitation. Gupta that if the Government of India is to Yesterday, Sir, you were present in the foot the Bill, if the Government of India has House when certain questions were being accepted the responsibility for the asked. It was stated that certain committees rehabilitation of displaced persons, what does had been set up, certain sub-committees had it matter to them whether the scheme is been set up, certain Ministers had been implemented in West Bengal or the scheme is brought in, certain organisations had been implemented in Mahdya Pradesh or in Orissa brought in. They are all right for political or, I might say, in Chanda, the place from propaganda in West Bengal. They are all where you come? right for political propaganda in camps. But as far as the Dandakaranya Authority is concerned, it is not an autonomous body in the 2573 Dandakaranya [ RAJYA SABHA ] Project 2574 SHRI BHUPESH GUPTA: May I costs the Government of India round about Rs. answer? 100 a month. We have spent Rs. 55 crores on them. We have not grudged any expenditure on them. Only at 10 minutes to 3 o'clock we SHRI MEHR CHAND KHANNA: You came before this House to ask for a have ten minutes. You can answer. To meet supplementary grant amounting to about Rs. 3 the arguments of my friends opposite, I have crores for the displaced persons who are living sanctioned during the last year at least seven in the camps in West Bengal. I am accused of schemes. One is called the Kailabhai Land throwing out displaced persons from the Development Scheme. Then there are the camps; I am charged of inhuman treatment Herobhanga and the Teesta Char schemes. towards them. Is this inhuman treatment, Sir— These are some of the schemes, Sir, which to spend Rs. 55 crores on their relief alone? were mentioned in the very pamphlet which Two years ago the budget provision for their was circulated in West Bengal by an relief was to the extent of Rs. 8,68,00,000. organisation called U.C.R.C, of which my Today, it has come down to round about Rs. 6 hon. friend, the mover, is the chief patron. lakhs, because this year . . . Now, Sir, I sanctioned those schemes. Why did I do that? SHRI BHUPESH GUPTA: Money is spent by Parliament, not by Mr. Khanna. Tomorrow, Sir, before either the Estimates Committee or the Public Accounts SHRI MEHR CHAND KHANNA: Oh! Committee probably I might be hauled up. I Thank you. You also have a share in it. I did am now told that in the case of Herobhanga it not realise that. I know where you have a will take five to six years before salinity is share. But please do not take it as personal. washed away. It is an area which has been perpetually under sea. We are reclaiming that So, Sir, that shows our sympathy for these area. Teesta Char is next to Jalpaiguri. As we displaced persons and that shows our know, Sir, floods have been the heaviest this humanitarian angle. Sir, I have not closed year, and I am told that a big portion of the down the camps. May I tell my friend, Mr. land in Teesta Char has already been washed Bhupesh Gupta, that I can pass an order even away. If I am going to take the displaced today and close down all the camps in West persons there, I will need at least Rs. 50 lakhs Bengal within 24 hours? But would you like to construct the bund, and then there will be a me, or would the House like me to deprive recurring expenditure to the extent of Rs. 2 these one lakh and sixty thousand people, who are living in these camps, of their doles? I am lakhs to Rs. 3 lakhs, and in the bargain I might get 5,000 acres of land, and I may be asked to take them to Dandakaranya, Sir. I can able to rehabilitate about a thousand or 1,500 close all the camps in West Bengal and create families. All these schemes that have been new camps in Dandakaranya. But that is not put forward, are those schemes which were my policy any more. That was our policy in tried and cast away, schemes which may be Charbettia, but I learnt a great lesson, thanks of a developmental nature, but they will take to him and his Party. Sir, I am not taking a years before they can be developed. Sir, why single D.P. from West Bengal to a new camp am I being, forced to adopt those schemes outside West Bengal. If I take a D.P., that will and not schemes like Dandakaranya? I will be for rehabilitation purposes. It would be for tell you the reason. I am not casting any continuous work till the period that person is aspersion on anybody. An average camp- rehabilitated. That is the reason, Sir, why I dweller in West Dengal costs me round about have Rs. 25 a month and a family 2575 Dandakaranya I 1 SEP. 1959 ] Project 2576 not taken these people to Dandakaranya so chal, and the remaining acres will be made far. This project is less than a year old. It took available to me within one month from today. birth by a resolution of the Government of And, Sir, as far as Orissa is concerned, it is India on the 12th of September last year. giving me 8 thousand acres in Umarkot by the Today, it is only the 1st September. Only 31st of October, 1959, and another 31 eleven months have elapsed. Is it expected of thousand acres by the 28th of February, 1960. me that I can convert these forests into Sir, it is all right for us—sitting in Delhi, in reclaimed lands, when there are no surveys air-conditioned rooms and houses, and and when there are no railways there? If I enjoying cultural shows in the evenings—to send a letter to my Chief Administrator, it say these things. But that area is impassable takes him one full week to get that letter. for five months or so during a year. During There are no communications there. So, Sir, those months you cannot even go to that area. what we have done is that during this period we have prepared a project. And I might tell Sir, I have been able to get hold of my the House, Sir, that we have already reclamation machinery. I have placed orders sanctioned certain schemes for the for about 56 tractors with the Ministry of construction of roads, for the construction of Defence. They have delivered 16, and the villages and for the construction of various remaining ones also will be coming. I have buildings, to the extent of Rs. 3 crores. taken some tractors from the C.T.O. They Sir, it might interest the House to know that have to be re-conditioned and put into the first tractor that I got from the Ministry of position. If there are no roads and no bridges, Defence was in the end of May, 1959. And where can I take these tractors? So, Sir, we from the C.T.O. I got certain tractors some- are looking into this problem very seriously, where about—I do not know—the end of and various measures have been undertaken. January or February. People who come from Certain anti-malaria measures have been Madhya Pradesh talk ahout development. Well, initiated, certain schools have been set up, and we want machinery to reclaim that area. We certain hospitals are being constructed. Sir, in want surveys to be made, because there are no an integrated project of this nature two things surveys. Sir, it has been stated that I am pulling should be remembered. One is the first phase in one direc-tion and the State Governments of the scheme, and the second is the second are pulling in another direction. That is entirely phase of the scheme/ I am only concerned wrong. It is false. That is ' simply being stated with the first phase of the scheme. As far as with a view to scuttling the scheme, and the the second phase of the scheme is concerned, main idea behind that is more political than I can assure Shri Bhupesh Gupta, whether he humanitarian. Sir, only on the 18th of last likes me or condemns me, that I am not going month, a conference was held in Calcutta to remain in charge of that scheme, because where the Chief Ministers of the States once the last D.P. in the camps of West concerned were present. I am sorry about the Bengal has been rehabilitated, I feel that I memory of Mr. Abdur Rezzak. He talked about would have done my best in this connection. only 6,000 acres. May I tell him, Sir, that in that meeting, which was held only a few days ago and the proceedings of which were made Now, Sir, why is he against this scheme of public, the Government of Madhya Pradesh Dandakaranya? It is all tall talk; it is all lip have agreed to give me 67 thousand acres by sympathy. They have conducted agitations; the 1st of October, 1959, i.e. within 30 days they have taken out processions: they have from today? They have already jgiyen me six been to the houses of the Chief Minister and thousand acres in Minga- the Rehabilitation Minister of West 2577 Dandakaranya [ RAJYA SABHA ] Project 2578

[Shri Mehr Chand Khanna.] Benga', and SHRI MEHR CHAND KHANNA: Then they have, in fact, left no stone unturned in processions are held. Let me tell you one thing their efforts. Their only grouse has been that I more. When these processions are formed, have been able to convince the displaced these D.Ps. ars asked to come and join those persons in the camps in West Bengal of the processions. The man who is in the front gets utility of this scheme, of the benefits of this a rupee, in the middle twelve annas and in the scheme and I have told them "Here is an back eight annas. Ask me 'Why'. Because if I opportunity for you because if you cannot be use some tear gas or make lathi charge, it is rehabilitated within West Bengal you have to the man who is in the front who gets a little come with me". And in in spite of his best more and so he gets one rupee. As a efforts, he has not been able to bring about movement was launched about 4 or 5 months one desertion from any one of my rehabili- ago against people going to Dandakaranya— tation colonies where I have taken thousands and when he accused me of sweet words and of families. I have taken 1,40,000 persons out going and talking to people, I am rather of camps in the eastern region during the last 2 grateful to my refugee friends that in spite pf years or so. There is not a single displaced the efforts in certain quarters, they have begun person in the camps in Tripura today. The to have faith in me— I passed orders and I number in Bettiah is only 6,000. I claim that I make no secret of it that everyday at 3 o'clock have used no coercion. I claim that I have not there should be a roll call at the camps in West applied any pressure tactics. It is entirely upto Bengal. If a man is absent, his dole for the day the displaced persons and they have gone should be deducted. It means that he should there very cheerfully and they have stayed on not take it from me when he takes from and they have clung to those colonies . In somebody else. It should not be a sort of Dandakaranya my plans •re ready. inducement to him that by staying away from the camp he gets his dole for the day and from SHRI BHUPESH GUPTA: Sir, you will the realisations that have already been made, have to sit a little longer. which he cannot possibly think about at that SHRI MEHR CHAND KHANNA: My plans time, he gets another rupee. So he gets Rs. 2 a are ready. I hope to make the movement of day or Rs. 1-8-0 a day. I also passed another D.Ps. from West Bengal to Dandakaranya order that relief is an ex gratia grant. If those soon after the monsoon. It might come as a who go and take part in these processions are shock to Mr. Gupta but that will happen convicted tomorrow and they go to jail, their because the D.Ps. are no longer going to listen names shall be removed from the camp to him. I tell you why. I may be entirely register. Out of 1,60,000 persons in the camps wrong. If you ask me to substantiate the in West Bengal, uptil today, the names of only allegation, perhaps I shall not be able to do so about 250 persons were removed. I told them and if Mr. Gupta contradicts me, I shall be 'I give you the highest priority in the field of even prepared to withdraw this statement. I rehabilitation but as far as camps are con- am told that from a number of the dwellers of cerned, if you are absent and if you are the camps in West Bengal, more so in the convicted and if you go to jail, you are not vicinity of Calcutta, certain parties are taking going to live in those camps'. Their names one anna in the rupee from every rupee that I were removed. What happened afterward? He give as a dole in those camps every month. has been to me a number of times. The Leader The money is collected from them. of the Opposition in West Bengal has been to me a couple of times. Meetings have been held SHRI BHUPESH GUPTA: It is a with the Chief Minister of West Bengal, a patent lie. 2579 Dandakaranya [ 1 SEP. 1959 J Project 2580 Minister of the Central Government has also he has suggested, out of one rupee one anna been brought into the picture. I told them: "I or so from the refugees. It is ridiculous to have great sympathy for them, I want. them to suggest that we need camps because we want get every possible relief under the Bengal the people in our processions. You will Government Relief Scheme. If they want understand that in Calcutta where out of the rehabilitation, I shall see that they get the 26 seats, the Congress has got 8 and the highest priority whether it was the State of Opposition 18, we do not require such kind of West Bengal or outside the State of West tactics to be adopted. Only yesterday there Bengal. But if they are going to play into the was a demonstration; whatever the P.T.I, may hands of certain political parties for their say, I got a trunk call to say that about 3 lakh political rehabilitation, then certainly I cannot people participated in the demonstration and have any sympathy for them." The result has 1 lakh people marched . . . been that after that, there has been no movement in West Bengal. Now about the SHRI MEHR CHAND KHANNA: Dandakaranya scheme, which is being According to the 'Statesman' . . . condemned before this House today, I give you an assurance on my own behalf and on SHRI BHUPESH GUPTA: ... in order to behalf of the Government of India, to my defy the law, peacefully. Then we must have friends here and outside, those who have got spent Rs. 3 lakhs yesterday and we do not faith in us, I can assure them that this have such money. It is ridiculous. I would ask Dandakaranya scheme shall be implemented. Mr. Khanna to get rid of such ridiculous Whether he thinks of a Committee here or ideas. People may accept such ideas from him whether he appoints a Committee tomorrow, I and his followers if he talked about certain am not concerned with that. I am only other places where the Communist Party or concerned with the humanitarian aspect of this other parties of the Opposition are not a problem and I can assure this House that I strong force. To make such suggestions about shall see that this scheme is implemented. As West Bengal and above all, Calcutta, would to the displaced persons who are living in the make everybody laugh and I would'not wish camps in Bengal, who had faith in* me and in even Mr. Khanna to become the laughing- the Government for all these years, on whom stock in the Treasury Benches. Therefore let we have spent crores of rupees, I shall see that us not go into it. He made a political speech. their faith is not misplaced. He said that we are interested in keeping this camp alive for political reasons. We are not SHRI BHUPESH GUPTA; Sir, I have only interested in this. Well, we have grown strong 10 minutes and the hon. Minister has ended in Kerala, there are no refugees there. In his speech by an appeal to have confidence in Andhra there are no refugees, in Bengal we his faith. I have no doubt in my mind that the have grown among the working classes and faith will be there in a diminishing way the peasantry. They are no refugees there. because he has lost considerable faith and Therefore why bring in or introduce such people have lost considerable faith in him. fantastic, ridiculous, meaningless, laughable arguments, I would ask him? Now he said First of all I want to make one thing clear about various other things and some of the that it is a patent lie, I repeat, to suggest for points I would like to meet but hon. Members anybody much less for a Minister, that any have noted that about many things that I said political party—I do not know about the about the administration itself, he had not Congress Party—in the opposition takes any answered. I did make certain allegations about money in that manner in which malpractices, irregularities, suggesting corruption in certain cases in the 2581 Qandakaranya [ RAJYA SABHA ] Project 2582 [Shri Bhupesh Gupta.] matter of authority, an authority which is supposed to administration of the Dandakaranya function somewhat independently in its own Development Project. I expected that the spheres with necessary drive and initiative, Minister would meet my points but he has should not be subjected to domineering done nothing of the kind. attitudes on the part of the Minister, subjected to all kinds of restrictions and dicta from the SHRI MEHR CHAND KHANNA: I Ministry. That is what I want to drive at and would request him through you, that if any that exactly is being done. Appointments, yes, specific case has come to Mr. Gupta's are being made by the Minister direct, notice, in spite of the fact that he has no sometimes ignoring many people; maybe he confidence in me, if he were to send it to thinks that he is doing the good thing; maybe me, I shall have the case examined. that all appointments are not good but that is not the point. Many people were sent for SHRI BHUPESH GUPTA; Certainly, I will political considerations. Supporters of some do it. As long as you are in this position, it is Ministers, friends of some Ministers, not a question of my having any confidence in supporters of this and that were sent. I did not you or not. I will certainly do it as a matter of introduce party politics here because I know duty. I did not get up to discuss whether the one Minister sides the Congress Party refugees should or should not go. We have to sometimes against another. discuss a particular project, the manner in which it had been administered so far, the problems it has had to face and the bunglings SHRI MEHR CHAND KHANNA: This was that the Government had made in the handling mentioned in the lobby to the Minister. of this project. As far as our feelings are concerned, yes, we feel that the ' refugees SHRI BHUPESH GUPTA: I do not have could be resettled within . West Bengal itself. intrigues with your Ministers. I do not have We have given some schemes, you may have intrigues with you, the great hon. intriguer. otHer schemes but these were never discussed at a meeting. I am glad Mr. Misra made a The. hon.*Minister said that he has on his reference to the West Bengal Assembly hands two lakhs of people. We do not like Resolution. That Resolu- . tion was to the you to have on your hand two lakhs of effect that the scheme should be discussed in refugees condemned to death in these camps. the Assembly. This was never done and the We would like them to be resettled, but what Minister says, "Why should they load them- we say is, explore the possibilities within selves with this kind of authority?". I only West Bengal itself. It is possible' to do so. look at the thing from the human side. These The Centre should take the initiative and people belong to West Bengal and it is, provide the money. This is the point I wish to therefore, legitimate that the people of West make. This is possible but they have rejected Bengal, without encroaching upon anybody's all our views. They would not even discuss authority, should have a say in this matter. with us and the Resolution of the Assembly They desire that they should be consulted, was not respected. This is my complaint about their representatives should be consulted, but it. I would appeal to Mr. Khanna, through that Resolution was never taken any notice of you, Sir, to be fair to himself and to us. For by the authorities concerned. heaven's sake, even at this late hour, let him do a little re-thinking. He did a little of tall The hon. Minister referred to the talking. Many promises were made. I Resolution of the Government of India but produced documents issued by the Ministry, what I feel is that an autonomous from 2583 Dandakaranya [ 1 SEP. 1959 J Project 2584

2585 Dandakaranya I RAJYA SABHA J Project 2586 [Shri Bhupesh Gupta.] Treasury benches me because they will be growing up in a whereas in the other House, I find Members different set-up, under different leadership, criticising the Ministers. They take up things where the polluting and corrupting hands of like that and criticise Ministers in an objective certain people wiH not be there to lootc alter way. 1 would appeal to the Minister not to your children and children's children. view this thing in a partisan way. It is not a question of Coiigici.3 and Communist at ali. It Therefore the approach that he has taken, I is a question oi Mr. Khanna s particular do repeat, in this matter is hignly dogmatic, approach in a particular matter on tne one lacking in numar; compassion, brutal and hand and different types of approaches by sometimes tyrannical. This is what I would others. This approach was given expression to say. The Kenabilitation Minister, ivir. by us and this is snared-by some spaaKers like Khanna—1 don't mean him personally; I "Mr. Jogesn Cnaueijea on the other side and mean him as an iaatitutiwi—mat Pathan oy tne aewspapers supporting taw a political institution which is saddled on the red LcixVugi i. coiuioi understand this. Rehabilitation Ministry needs maximum sympathy, compassion, understanding, teliow- I would only appeal to liim to stop the feeiing and flexibility of mind. Unfortunately, persecution oi refugees in the :ampj. \ve ao he is displaying all the opposite qualities. That not need that kind of ;mag there. Vve ate is one of the greatest troubles. You have quite strong and ible to look after ourselves . nearly antagonised the whole of Bengal. You . . may feel very happy here because Mr. Akbar Ali Khan is there always to pat the Ministry. THE DEPUTY MINISTER OF That sort of support you will never lose. Every ^HABILITATION _ (SHRI P. S. LASKAR): time you speak, you are losing support in Are you? West Bengal camps; you have lost the support of many of your own followers. Therefore the SHRI BHUPESH GUPTA: ... and whole thing has to be gone into. I repeat the he poweiuui masses in Bengal. ihould demand for a Commission of Enquiry into this we aesire to give a httle rouble to the affair. I accuse Mr. Khanna first of all of West Bengal Governmnt, we can do it. On arrogating to himself the authority which tne 4th, there all be a general strike. It wiH should not belong to him and abusing that not e a strike of the refugees but it will e a power and utilising it in a particular manner sume oi the working people gainst this which is neither helpful to the refugees nor to disreputed food policy, have not forgotten the development of the particular undeveloped Kerala because it only 1, your cruldren and area. Thank you. child-sn's children, will never forgive you r tne crime tnat you have committed. wui go uuwii unougn generations to story. But it is THE VICE-CHAIRMAN (SHRI DAHYABHAI not Keraia I am iw talking about. I am V. PATEJ,) : The House stands adjourned till talking out West Bengal. 11 A.M. tomorrow morning.

SHRI MEHR CHAND KHANNA: The House then adjourned at mi chiiuren will remember you tor . time. forty-two minutes past Ave of the You get married first. clock till eleven of the clock on Wednesday, the 2nd September SHRI BHUPESH GUPTA: Your 1959. ildren will undoubtedly rememuer