The Social Impact Assessment process began as part of the new land acquisition act called the ‘Right to Fair Compensation, Transparency in Land Acquisition Resettlement and Rehabilitation (RFCTLARR) Act, 2013’ of the Government of India, under Section 2 of the aforementioned Act. It is a people friendly, rights-based approach to development that considers possible impacts from the loss of land (to be acquired); impacts to the community wellbeing, livelihood, security, sentiments of the people; impacts to the institutions present near the project site that the implementation of the proposed government project might bring about; not just from an environmental point of view but from the socio-institutional point of view.

The purpose of the social impact assessment study is to analyse impacts and manage the intended and un-intended social consequences which may be both positive and negative and also any social change that may arise due to the projects. The primary purpose is to bring about a more sustainable and equitable environment.

In exercise of powers conferred by the Sub Section (1) of Section 4 of the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013 (No. 30 of 2013), the Government of Meghalaya had notified the Meghalaya Institute of Governance (MIG) as the State’s Nodal Social Impact Assessment Unit for carrying out Social Impact Assessment Study.