Livelihood Adaptation in Resettlement Project of Urban Development

Livelihood Adaptation in Resettlement Project of Urban Development: A Case Study of Pattana Village, Pakse, Lao PDR.

Contents Introduction Research questions Research methodology Finding of the study Conclusion

Introduction Laos had been under Monarch rule until 2 December 1975 when the Communist Pathet Lao won the victory over the Royal Lao Government to rule the country. The country is listed as one of the world's 48 least developed countries. Laos government has set the aim of quitting this category by 2020 (Rigg, 2005: 20; Lintner 2008: 171).

Cont. One of the keys means to solve Laos' underdevelopment is through market reform (Rigg, 2005). Accordingly, Laos has implemented the new economic policy in 1986 which has opened the country to regional and global trade relations.

Pakse: The center of investment and transportation From 1975 until presently, Pakse's roles as the center of investment, communication and transportation, travelling. Pakse is also an education center in southern Laos. There is a Champasak University, and several state and private colleges. All these factors have contributed into rapid economic expansion of Pakse and making it the country's third biggest city.

Urban development However, as a result of rapid expansion of the city without urban planning, many problems have occurred; major among them are overcrowded, narrow roads and congested traffic, and waste water pollution which has affected people's health. Therefore, the government has the Pakse urban development plan and land using project during the year 1999 -2000 by implementation of urban development and administration Authority officials.

Research questions 1) In what way that the Pakse Urban Development Organization implemented the urban development project and the resettlement policy and activities? 2) What are the livelihood adaptation strategies of the resettlers in Pattana village?

Research methodology Data collection participant observation, key informants' in-depth interview, and focus group discussion * Key informants Villagers, Government officials and Pakse urban authority officials.

Finding of the study Urban development and resettlement policy Livelihood adaptation Social relations and religious and cultural practices

Urban development and resettlement policy The urban development which led to resettlement of villagers had caused problems for the affected villagers are moved to live in Pattana village where the government provides allotment. Their old villages which had been the target of urban development project used to be the center for trade and other businesses and services due to their good locations accessible by many people.

Compensation policy and activities 1) Land compensation 2) House compensation 3) Relocation compensation

The land compensation For the resettlers in the local government's compensation policy, the land allotment provided for each household were 800 square meters

Houses’ compensation According to officials, in order to calculate the compensation for the houses that had to be demolished It is evaluated the quality of the houses (newly or recently built or long-time built) and measured the houses' size. The rate of calculation for compensation is one square meter for 800, 000 Kips (or 3, 080 Bahts).

Cont. The calculation of the compensation for a house was set as the following 800, 000 Kips x a house size in square meters x percentage of a house's quality / 100

Relocation compensation Apart from the compensation for the houses that had to be demolished, the local government had also provided relocation compensation for each house owner. The rate was fixed, each house owner would receive 60 percent of the compensation for his/her old house.

Cont. The calculation of the compensation for relocation was set as the following House compensation x 60 percent / 100

Table 1: Example of the compensation for house and relocation House owner House Quality Compensation House Size(Sq. of house rate: one sq. mt compensation Relocation Total Compensation Meter) (%) (Kips) Mr. Ying 100 60 800, 000 48, 000 28, 800, 000 76, 800, 000 Mrs. Wan 100 95 800, 000 76, 000 45, 600, 000 121, 600, 000

Livelihood adaptation 1) Economic adaptation 2) Socail and cultural adaptation

Economic adaptation: occupation changes, restriction on consumption Occupation changes as one of problems that affect to the resettlers due to they have to adjust with new occupation that they did not use to do before as the resettlers in Pattana village, They have difficulty for having their new occupation because before the most of their occupation depend on the agriculture to be family economic On the other hand now the occupation that they used to do before it is changed to be employee job along the Markets and the companies. .

Cont. Many key informants interviewed explained that they had to adapt their pattern of household consumption. For example, instead of buying cooked foods from markets or restaurants for consumption as they usually did in the past before resettlement, Many villagers interviewed now buy raw materials and vegetable and meats from the market to cook at home which cut the expenses by half.

Cont. Monthly Income No Category Number (Kips) Before Present 1 Villagers 12 700, 000 - 1, 000 600, 000 - 900, 000 2 Business people 11 800, 000 - 1, 200, 000 750, 000 - 1, 000 3 Government officials 7 500, 000 - 700, 000 Total 30 1, 300, 000 - 2, 000

Social and cultural adaptation of the resettlers in Pattana Village, it was found that even though there were difference in the customs and traditions that were practiced among villagers They had integrated their cultural difference and had managed to live together in harmony. Villagers are united in participation in the event through donating money or helping each another in organizing these festival or ceremony or making merits.

Cont.

Social relations and religious and cultural practices Data collected from interviews and direct observation has shown that villagers have successfully maintained their social relations within the new community. This is because of one factor: there are many organizations or associations in the village which have acted as the major force in mobilizing villagers for community services and others.

Cont. Apart from social relations, in Laos, any village cultural identity can be comprehended through its rich religious and cultural practices in relation to marriage, traditional festivals and clothing. Villagers at Pattana village have shown that they are eager to maintain and transmit knowledge about these religious and cultural practices. .

cont.

Conclusion Adaptation and adjustment, economically, socially, and culturally are important for survival and sustainable livelihoods for villagers who had been resettled to live in the new setting As they had to face with several changes and challenges in the new environment. This adjustment includes changes in making a living, and in the patterns of daily household consumption in accordance with the changes in the monthly income.

Cont. Furthermore, in order to ensure unity and harmony in living together, Villagers who came from different places have maintained their social relations as well as traditional religious and cultural practices. It is hoped that the results of this study will be valuable for the understanding of how the development programs as part of economic reform relate to livelihood trajectories of the people who are subjects of state's development.

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