CHAPTER -IV

                                                                     WORKING PROCEDURE

1.  Regularisation of Refugee Colonies

(A)  CATEGORIES OF REFUGEE COLONIES:

I.  Government Sponsored Colonies:

     These colonies were set-up by the Government. Lands were acquired, lay-out plans were prepared and homestead plots were allotted amongst refugee families by issuing Allotment Letters or Arpan Patras. The Arpan Patras given to refugees were subject to the fulfilment of certain conditions including part/full payment of the pro-rata cost. Mostly Camp families were rehabilitated in these colonies. Govt. sponsored colonies are of two types viz;

(a)  Urban G.S. Colonies – where only homestead plots were distributed.

(b)  Rural G.S. Colonies – Where homestead plots upto 10 kattahs per family and agricultural plots up to 3 acres (9 bighas) per family were distributed. A Committee on Conferment of Right and Title of Lands on Refugees under the Chairmanship of Sri Haridas Mitra was constituted by Resolution No. 2090-Rehab dt. 20-4-75. The R. R. & R. Department, Government of West Bengal prepared a scheme for such conferment of right and title. The said committee considered in detail the scheme which was subsequently sanctioned by the Government of India. Relevant letter No. 28(4)/73-RE; 17-5-1994 from G.O.I and G.O. No. 7486 (17)-Rehab; 17-9-74 are annexed at 48 and 49. The list of Urban and Rural G.S. colonies is appended at Annex. 2 and 3.

II.  Squatters’ Colonies

The question pertaining to the settlement of the plots squatted upon by the refugees in large groups on blocks of Private, Government and semi-Government lands throughout the state was an important issue before the state.

 149-Group:

The Fact Finding Committee, constituted in 1952, made an attempt and finally the report of the Working Group on the residual problem of rehabilitation in West Bengal recognised the existence of 149 such colonies. This group of colonies was set-up immediately after partition. The list of 149-Group is appended in Annex-4.

    175-Group:

The Working Group set up by the Govt. of India vide Memo No. 18(2)/75-Rh Dt. 2.7.75. for consideration of the residual problems of rehabilitation of displaced persons in West Bengal, recognised the existence of another 175 new colonies which were set up to 16^th December, 1971.

    A copy of the letter conveying approval of regularisation of 175 Group of colonies and the list of such colonies is appended in Annex-5.

607-Group:

The regularisation of squatters’ colonies of displaced persons which come into existence after 1^st January, 1951, but prior to 25^th march, 1971 (Bangladesh Liberation) had been taken up on top priority basis with Government of India consequent upon the then Prime Minister’s discussion with Chief Minister.