Mumbai: Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Friday assured tribal communities displaced by development projects that their long-pending rehabilitation issues would be resolved. Addressing a gathering in neighbouring Palghar to hand over land records certificates to project-affected persons (PAPs), the CM asserted development would mean little if local people were deprived of land, jobs and benefits.

"The government is committed to ensuring project-affected persons receive proper rehabilitation, infrastructure, basic amenities and employment opportunities. If we make the original inhabitants of this land landless and do not give them a place in the development process, it will not be development but destruction," Fadnavis said.

People displaced for various projects over the past 30 to 50 years faced prolonged hardship, with several rehabilitation issues remaining unresolved, the CM admitted.

The government has formulated new rehabilitation standards and is working to address pending issues arising from earlier policies, he added.

The CM said the villages where displaced people were resettled must have good infrastructure and all necessary facilities, and, most importantly, must have access to employment.

"The benefits of development projects should not go only to people from outside the region. Residents must also get jobs and a share in the prosperity generated by such projects," he said.

Fadnavis said his government has resolved to make Palghar among the top five districts in Maharashtra in terms of development.

"This will not be possible unless the tribals, poor people, farmers, agricultural labourers and women of this district are included in the development process," he said.

Referring to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's message of inclusive development, Fadnavis said development should not benefit only a handful of people but reach everyone.

Recalling the hardships faced by families relocated decades ago, he said they had effectively been left without adequate facilities.

"You have endured a long period of hardship. Even Lord Ram and the Pandavas did not have to endure the kind of exile that you have suffered. I give you my word today that your period of hardship is over. A new dawn and a new path have begun for you," Fadnavis said.

He also assured people from Hanuman Nagar and Chandra Nagar areas that the government would work to improve their conditions. 

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