POSCO-India to provide alternate land to betel vine cultivators

21 Nov 2006

New Delhi: Korean steelmaker Posco's Indian subsidiary today announced a special scheme of providing alternative land for relocation of betel vines to all the betel vine cultivators at its proposed plant site area.

Posco-India has decided to provide alternative land stretches to betel vine owners who are cultivating on government land and want to continue cultivation for their livelihood. Posco India says suitable land that qualifies for betel vine cultivation will be provided within or outside the Posco-India project area.

The steel maker says that this would be in addition to the rehabilitation requirements of the government of Orissa of taking care of people at the plant site area. It says it is committed to providing guaranteed jobs to one member from each displaced family and also rendering skill training to local youth for increasing their employability.

Posco-India plans to conduct a socio-economic survey to ascertain the betel vine status within the project area before formulating a package in consultation with the state government and the local betel vine cultivators.

The company estimates that approximately 200 acres of land in two or three areas will be required as alternate sites for relocating the local betel vine cultivators.

"This relocation option will enable both the betel vine farm owners and their employees to retain their livelihood in line with their specialised skills of betel vine cultivation," says Soung-Sik Cho, CMD, Posco India. "Since POSCO India strongly believes in growing together with the community, it will make all possible efforts from its side to ensure that the betel vine cultivators are not only relocated properly but also enjoy a better environment by all means."