New Delhi : The Indian government is in the process of assessing all special economic zone (SEZ) related issues to give farmers a fair deal, Minister of State for Commerce and Industry, Ashwani Kumar said Wednesday.

Land being a state subject it comes under the jurisdiction of the state governments. Every state acquires land for its individual needs. Hence, the relief and rehabilitation measures will be based on its own necessitates, the minister said in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha.

Issues related to SEZs have also been placed before the empowered group of ministers (EGOM).

He said through its new National Rehabilitation Policy the government was trying to reduce displacement and promote non-displacing alternatives. According to Kumar, the government is also considering rehabilitation packages and implementation of rehabilitation process.

The minister also mentioned the recent cases of protests by farmers from West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Haryana and Maharashtra against acquisition of land by state governments for setting up industries including SEZs.

Adding that SEZs are expected to bring overall development, Kumar said the main aim of setting up SEZs is to generate economic activity and promote export of goods and services.

This, he said, will attract more foreign investment, besides capital from domestic sources, resulting in employment generation.

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