The Maharashtra government has decided to grant Project-Affected Person (PAP) certificates to farmers, landowners and their legal heirs who voluntarily gave land through private negotiations for public projects, bringing them on a par with those whose land was acquired under the Land Acquisition Act. The move makes them eligible for rehabilitation benefits, including reservations in government jobs and educational institutions, wherever applicable, and is expected to remove a long-standing disparity while encouraging voluntary land transfers for infrastructure projects. Those who sold land through private negotiations for public projects were excluded despite contributing to the same projects. “The new policy will extend the same recognition and benefits to such landowners and their heirs, making them eligible for rehabilitation benefits available under the State's project-affected persons policy,” he said. Officials said the move is expected to strengthen public confidence in government projects and facilitate faster land procurement for future infrastructure projects by encouraging voluntary land transfers.