Resettlement Action Plan (RAP) and R&R
A practical MIS to plan, track, and evidence Resettlement & Rehabilitation (R&R) delivery per RFCTLARR, EIA public processes, and (if applicable) ESS5/PS5/ADB SPS.
RAP And R&R Explained
RAP (Resettlement Action Plan): an operational document that identifies who is affected (physically/economically), defines entitlements, relocation and livelihood-restoration measures, budgets, timelines, roles, and monitoring. RAPs are required by many financiers (World Bank ESS5, IFC PS5, ADB SPS) and align with the same core principles: avoid displacement where possible, compensate at replacement cost, restore (or improve) livelihoods, and run a functioning grievance mechanism. World BankIFCAsian Development Bank
R&R (Rehabilitation & Resettlement) in Indian law: the statutory package of benefits and processes under the RFCTLARR Act, 2013—compensation + a minimum R&R “basket” (e.g., subsistence allowance, housing/house-site, annuity/employment option, shifting assistance, etc.) set out in the Second/Third Schedules. tribal.nic.inmanipur.gov.in
Why Projects Need RAP and R&R
Typical projects that trigger these: linear infrastructure (highways, transmission, pipelines), mining/coal blocks, dams/canals, industrial parks/SEZs, urban expansion/airports. When social impacts are unmanaged, projects face stoppages, litigation, cost overruns, loss of social licence, and even audit findings. India’s CAG has flagged delays and non-delivery of R&R benefits, urging compliance within six months of the compensation award.
Key Indian Laws & Standards You Must Anchor To
Comprehensive legal compliance framework ensuring project success and community welfare
RFCTLARR Act, 2013 (National Framework)
SIA & SIMP
Mandatory Social Impact Assessment with Management Plan, public hearing, Expert Group appraisal
Consent Requirements
Private projects (80% landowners), PPP (70%) consent thresholds
R&R Entitlements
Minimum benefits (Second Schedule) and resettlement amenities (Third Schedule)
Governance Structure
Administrator R&R, Commissioner R&R, Project R&R Committee, Monitoring Committees
EIA Notification, 2006
Public hearing requirements, EIA document disclosure, social issues integration in EIA/EMP
PESA 1996 & FRA 2006
Gram Sabha roles in Scheduled Areas, community forest rights, consent requirements
International Standards
World Bank ESS5, IFC PS5, ADB SPS - stricter requirements for vulnerable populations
How Identification → Implementation → Monitoring Should Work
Systematic 7-step process ensuring compliance and sustainable outcomes
Screening & Avoidance
Map acquisition footprint early; redesign to avoid/minimize displacement per ESS5/PS5 principles
SIA & Census
Household census of all affected (owners, tenants, sharecroppers, labourers), inventory of losses, vulnerability analysis, prepare SIMP and Entitlement Matrix
Consultation, Disclosure, Consent
Public hearings (EIA 2006), Gram Sabha proceedings (PESA/FRA), obtain consent thresholds under RFCTLARR
RAP/R&R Scheme Preparation
Translate SIA/SIMP into bankable RAP: eligibility, entitlements, relocation sites, livelihood programs, GRM, gender inclusion, schedule, budget
Institutional Setup & Financing
Notify Administrator R&R, project R&R committee; ring-fence funds; issue family micro-plans; align special-Act acquisitions to RFCTLARR
Implementation Safeguards
Disburse compensation at replacement cost; deliver R&R benefits before possession/transfer; condition hand-over on R&R completion
Monitoring, Evaluation, Closure
Track KPIs (compensation, house sites, livelihood restoration), internal & external monitoring, completion reports, State/National Committee reviews
Common Gap Areas We Repeatedly See
Critical issues that lead to project delays, community resistance, and audit findings
Under-counting Issues
Missed non-titleholders, tenants, seasonal users, women's ownership, and common-property resource users
Weak Cut-off & Baseline
Late or poorly disclosed cut-off dates; insufficient census detail to support micro-plans
Consent/Consultation Issues
Perfunctory Gram Sabha processes; incomplete documentation in PESA/FRA contexts
Entitlement Matrix Drift
Mismatch between RFCTLARR minima and project entitlements; inconsistent valuation methods
Livelihood Restoration
Focus on cash over sustainable income restoration; weak linkages to skills, markets, land-for-land options
Sequencing & Governance
Taking possession before R&R delivery; under-resourced Administrator/R&R Authority; weak monitoring
How SR Asia Can Help (End-to-End Support)
Comprehensive RAP and R&R services from upstream design to post-implementation evaluation
Upstream & Design
• SIA & SIMP as per RFCTLARR and state rules
• Full census & asset mapping, DGPS/GIS parceling
• Vulnerability tagging and impact-avoidance options
• Entitlement Matrix harmonized across RFCTLARR, state rules, ESS5/PS5/ADB SPS
• Family-wise micro-plans and budgets
Permissions & Due Process
• Structure consent/Gram Sabha roadmaps (PESA/FRA contexts)
• Documentation packets with photographic/video evidence
• Disclosure folders for EIA public hearings
• Compliance checklists for statutory requirements
RAP/R&R Scheme Drafting
• Bankable RAP with relocation site layout & Third-Schedule amenities
• Livelihood-restoration programs (agri/NRM, skill, enterprise)
• Gender & inclusion plan with GRM mechanisms
• Schedule, risks, and contracts package list
Implementation & Monitoring
• Set up R&R cell with TORs for Administrator R&R and project committee
• MIS dashboards tracking compensation, entitlements, site readiness
• Quarterly monitoring reports aligned to lender/state formats
• Completion & post-implementation evaluations
Special Acts & Highways/Coal
Align acquisitions under NH Act/CBAA with RFCTLARR compensation & R&R via 2015 Section 105(3) order; update agency-specific checklists (NHAI/MoRTH, Coal/CIL)
Rapid Diagnostics
2-3 week R&R compliance diagnostic: verify SIA quality, entitlement delivery status, FRA/PESA documentation; produce risk & remedy plan keyed to statutory clauses
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