The Union government has taken a welcome step towards rehabilitation of families displaced by development projects. The cabinet has approved the National Policy on Resettlement and Rehabilitation for Project-affected Families, 2003. The policy is applicable to projects that displace 500 or more families in the plains and 250 families or more in hilly areas. It envisages assistance to those who have been residing or earning their livelihoods in the area affected by the project for over three years prior to the announcement of the zone as an affected area...editorial