FROM COMPENSATION BASED RESETTLEMENT TO RWD: THEAPPLICATION AND DEVELOPMENT OF RWD POLICY IN CHINA

摘要

Involuntary resettlement caused by project construction is a difficult problem overrnthe world. In the past, the restoration of livelihoods in the event of involuntary resettlementrnhas been based purely on providing compensation to those who are displaced. Evidence hasrnshown that compensation-based involuntary resettlement can not realize the objective ofrnrestoring and improve resettlers’ living standard. With a view to improve this outcome, thernconcept of Resettlement with Development (RwD) was envisaged and is now generallyrnheralded as the means to mitigate the catastrophic failures of the past. However, few countriesrnhave included the concept of RwD into their national policies. The People’s Republic ofrnChina is an exception and has begun to consider the importance of RwD, including the conceptrnin its National Policy since the middle of 1980s. Now RwD is the backbone of China nationalrnresettlement policy for solving the involuntary resettlement caused by water conservancy andrnhydropower projects. The Chinese government has taken resettlement as an opportunity tornhelp resettlers restore and improve their living standards and develop economy in reservoirrnareas by implementing RwD policy including giving compensation and subsidies at early stagernand offering production assistance at late stage, setting up reservoir construction fund,rninitiating partnership programs and preferential policy as well as enhancing infrastructurernconstruction. The preliminary experience from the TGP resettlement has verified that therntransformation from compensation based resettlement to RwD is a right policy choice. Withrnthe frail structure of national resettlement policies throughout the developing world, that Chinarnincludes RwD in its policy is both unique and important. Indeed, an increasing number ofrndeveloping nations are considering moving away from providing mere compensation for thernreestablishment of resettlers livelihoods but there still needs time for them to incorporate thernconcept of RwD in the national involuntary resettlement policy. Meanwhile, because of thernchanging political environment and the complexity of involuntary resettlement there is stillrnroom for China to improve its RwD policy.