Involuntary Displacement and Resettlement — Policy and ... - CEPA

Even though these families were living in unauthorised constructions, theywere entitled to a house to replace the one destroyed by the tsunami. Threeyears and hundreds of millions of dollars later, housing needs have not beenmet. As poor fishermen continue to make their voices heard, not giving up inthe face of indifferent government officials, persons with power becomeirate that the displaced have not learned to stay where they belong (in poorshanties). As they continue to fight, the perception that they could receive alarger, perhaps better constructed house than the one the tsunami destroyedis much more than some persons in the court can bear. The perception thatsome tsunami-affected families are getting or could get more than theydeserve is a belief held by many.The Challenges of Self-settlementThe previous sections discussed challenges and obstacles to obtainingcompensation. This section addresses the challenges that many familiesencounter after they have been told that they are eligible for compensationor after they received compensation and tried to resettle/relocate theirfamilies outside of the shelter site.Finding a Piece of LandUpon notification that they have qualified for the self-settlement modality(Rs. 250,000 for a piece of land and a subsequent Rs. 250,000 to constructa house), the potential recipient must find a piece of land to buy before theyare given the compensation money to purchase it. Many families have beenunable to find a piece of land that meets the government’s specifications 17 ,which can be purchased for Rs. 250,000, and is in a place where they wantto live. It is very difficult to find a plot of land for this amount in the areasof Colombo where they lived before the tsunami. Some families have boughtland more than five hours outside of Colombo (field notes, 15 November2007), while other families have found land within 45 minutes.17I was unable to locate any document that listed these specifications in writing. The followingexplanation is pieced together from narrative accounts of what families have been told by theGN: a clear deed of the land, a 10-foot entrance road to the land and minimum area of fiveperches (although some families said they were told 10 perches).193