Bharat Forge SEZ: 324 rehabilitated

Nearly 39 persons among them have already got employed as security guards in the first phase of the roll out of the rehabilitation package by the Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation (MIDC) and Bharat Forge. MIDC rehabilitation officer Geeta Patil said that all the youngsters were given training and they would soon be recruited. “Each course had a definite time frame and after the course,they are guaranteed employment,’’she said.

The response has been good for security services. “There were good opportunities for security guards and many opted for it,’’ she said. The rehab and settlement package is being showcased as an ideal package.

Sujit Hulge and Tukaram Kadam both from Kanersar have bagged the security services job and will soon be undergoing training for a month. “We are very happy having got the job. We are being paid Rs 6000,” they said.

The others who bagged the job are excited to have got jobs close to their homes. There are others who are excited over wearing an uniform on job. The youngsters who have been taken on for this job are ninth class pass and will be undergoing training for a month.

Manohar Shinde,a farmer from Nimgaon,is satisfied with the first phase of roll out and the training meted to the children.

“This will help them get employment and they can have a secure future,’’ he said.

With the first phase of acquisition and rehabilitation getting over,the second phase will be rolled out soon. “We have already finished issuing 32/1- the final notification – and now the next step is to discuss the value of land with the farmers,” said a senior officer from MIDC.

Villagers of Nimgaon,Dhavadi,Kendur and Kanersar in Khed and Shirur talukas gave up their land for the first phase. The second phase will see acquisition from Gosasi,Pur,Pabal,Retawadi,Warude,Chaudharwadi and Wapgaon. “While 200 hectares belong to the government,1,700 hectares will have to be acquired from the villagers,” said the officer.

The district officers are now starting the preliminary round of talks with the villagers. A package similar to the one in Khed-Shirur will be worked out once they give the nod,” said the officer.

Under the package,worked out by the MIDC,the farmer gets Rs 17 lakh per hectare and additional sops such as guaranteed employment to one person from every project-affected family and a buyback option for farmers up to 15 per cent of the developed land after paying the original cost of the land plus an additional 50 per cent.