One thing i don't understand how the government occupies a green (or farming) land for projects like this just because it close to National Highway. The government can occupy a dry area, make good roads.
The way trend goes not just in Bengal, this is happening in Karnataka to make roads, dry land will remain as dry lands and no green areas for agriculture and one day we have to import food items from other countries
I agree to all of you when you say we ruined ourselves between 60's to 80's. I think we have to take collective responsibility as Bengalis for what has happened. But things are changing. I have had opportunity of working in Chennai, Bangalore and Hyderabad and trust me the generation here (at least in Kolkata) is equally motivated and hardworking as others. What we need now is strong leadership at the top to move forward. Everyone must understand that it takes time to change and heal.
Industrialization is need of the hour for all of us. We have to be judgemental about how much land has to be used for industrialization and how the society benefits out of that project. I hear lot of people talking about taking barren land or take land from closed manufacturing units. Historically, if you analyze you%u2019ll see except for industries based on raw mining materials are located around river bed or around sea shores. All jute mills of Calcutta are located at the banks of Hooghly River. All closed down units have huge defaults with banks and creditors and also to their labourers and hence it is next to impossible to acquire those.
There are quite a few furores about acquiring agricultural lands. If you have ever lived in Calcutta and you%u2019ll know that all its suburbs are well known agricultural lands (e.g., Kasba which means a village of wealth). So its not just Govt. is acquiring agricultural land, the farmers are also selling lands whenever they are well paid. Even now you can visit Bhangar (from Science City towards Kasba take left turn) any Sunday morning and you%u2019ll see scores of dalal%u2019s thronging the area for quick cash.
Singur is an example that shows Govt. right path it should take in future course. Industries are coming and land acquisition is inevitable. Left Front as a farmer friendly Govt. must rise to the occasion to fulfil the dream it has sold to its million of voters in last election.
RE:Time to Rise
by stephen raj on Feb 09, 2007 04:51 PM Permalink
Industrialization should not be at the cost of poor who depend on solely on agricultral land. if cultivable land goes to industries than what will you eat then? ofcourse you will go to Mcdonald but what about the poor? they will migrate to Delhi and Mumbai's slums and the globalized elite will enjoy all teh benefits of SEZs where the tillers and the poor will be banned. Mind you the same CPM have been oppssoing in other states policy for SEZs but here it is keeping mum. Is it not double standard? let the Govt. ensure the poor agricultral labourers a decent living and then cary on your "development" activities.
RE:RE:Time to Rise
by Bunty Banerjee on Feb 09, 2007 06:03 PM Permalink
I understand your point of view. Here what I think: 1. Cultivable Land vs Industry: Baring few places in western and northern part of west bengal, I have not seen much of the barren land anywhere in west bengal. If you know the history of the place it was made very late in the indian subcontinent by the dumps of river ganges. It is probably one of the most fertile lands in the country if not the first. We%u2019re well surplus in food production (please check EPW for details). On season lot of farmers loose money because of over grown fields. So, we%u2019ll having nothing to each is just hypothesis.
2. Are we really poor: In last three decades rural Bengal has been tremendous beneficiary of the policies of the govt. Now, they own land, has concrete house with toilets. New generation of farmers%u2019 kids are going to schools, has access to cable television and wants a taste of the modern life. Look at hero Honda, Telco dealership location to validate my claim. I am not claiming everyone has money but it is much better than what we used to be 30 years before.
2. Double Standards - Even though I am not a CPM cadre, what I have heard from CPM leadership collectively, it is opposed to SEZ in all its form. There is no doubt in their mind that it is only going to server creamy section of the society. Having said that SEZ is not west benagal govts' policy but it is a central policy. Now if west bengal govt doesn't allow SEZs then what will happen? Porjects those were supposed to happen in West Bengal will happen in RAJ/GUJ/TN. Will that benefit the state?
However, I totally agree to you when you say %u201Clet the Govt. ensure the poor agricultral labourers a decent living and then cary on your "development" activities%u201D. I think Prof Amartya Sen%u2019s work on Collective Choice and Social Welfare should be a great guideline.
If the CPIM is in power they can allow land aquisition from farmers. But if they lost power they will be against it and attack innocent poeple who use their agriculture land for some other issues. So in singur and nandi gram there is nothing more than their political and ideological bankruptsy
The root problem in west bengal acquisation is that the government is aquiring fertile agricultural land which is the main source of income for "Bargardars". There are lots of barren lands lying unutilised or not suitable for agriculture in west bengal. Government is not interested to use those land. The people of west behgal is not against industrilisation of the state. Industry should come to the state, at the same time the farmers should not be affected by the government policy. I will ask everybody to understand this and think clearly what the common people need at this time. Please do not politisize everything. Lot of people died in Nandigram, who is responsible for that? Who is going to compensate for those family? There is no answer for that.I am asking everybody in west bengal, please think and let the state progress, but not in the expanse of poor agricultural workers.
RE:West Bengal Land acqusation Issue
by nickel biswas on Feb 11, 2007 06:03 AM Permalink
The main thing holding back the poor are the poor themselves, because they continue to fall for the tatics of their leaders who are simply exploiting them for political gain.
Subsistence agriculture is, and always will be, doomed to failure. India's population is growing, but it's land area is not. If even today the farmers are having a hard time, it will be much harder for them in the future.
Their only hope is to increase their skills and education; which can only happen if India leaves subsistence agriculture behind, and embraces industrialization.
The level or industrialization in India is woefully low compared to other countries which were as under-developed as india 50 years ago (Korea, Taiwan, China, Maylasia, etc.). We can't blame the British anymore for this. We have to calmly and rationally ask what is the reason for this tragic state of affairs. IMO the main reason for this is obstacles that the govt puts in the way of business. For every 1 TATA which chose to stay, there will be at least 10 companies who will just give up; leaving the farmers and their corrupt leaders to bask in their hollow victory, so they can go back to farming their land, and their families can go back to a life of poverty and deprivation with no hope for the future.
The land in Singur is very fertile and many families are dependent on that. May be it is very close to national highways. Why the government is not going for barren non- agricultural lands. They can make highways to transpost everything in those areas. Calcutta is connected to the whole world by all kind of transport, so the Gorer Math will be best area for this kind of activity. It is in front of Tata center. And will be less expensive for Tatas and the CM.
W.Bengal was once upon a time, was a leading State with regard to Industries, and people used to go to Calcutta in search of jobs. However during the last two decades, militant labour force abetted and aided by the political parties for their own selfish goals, have driven away most of the Industries from the State. This has lead to lot of unemployment in the State.
There is no doubt that Agriculture is a priority in a developing Country like India. However a fine balance of Agriculture and also Industries must be attained for overall and allround development of the people in the State, so that we don't depend upon only one sector at any point of time.
Under the circumstances, protests like the one going on in the case of Singur, is not in the interest of the State, and such acts will only force a very few people who think of investing in the State. We must understand that people invest in industries in a State, with the hope of attaining some reasonable returns within a reasonable period of time, (which provides productive employment to the people as well, besides encouraging ancillary industries too), and do not come to give charity.
I hope the politicians really think about the long term welfare of the people of the State and act accordingly. If the majority of our politicians act like this, then only India will progress faster, and may even overtake the US, etc.
RE:Land acquisition for Industries in Bengal
by Ashok Trivedi on Feb 09, 2007 11:06 AM Permalink
What you say is fine, but then the hypocritical commies should take the same stand when it comes to the rest of India. They cannot oppose it in other parts while advocate it in W. Bengal.
Good, good, good. This is a very good lesson to dear commies in Bengal. Either you have progress or you have communism. You cannot have both... unless of course you go the China way. Make up your minds comrades!
RE:Progress v/s Communism
by Ganapathi Raj on Feb 09, 2007 12:29 PM Permalink
I wonder why Tatas choose West Bengal known for its communist mindset. They could have easily set up these plant in other states like Maharashtra / Tamil nadu etc.
Poor tata is not able to secure 1000 acre of land legaly in WB for a good cause while several politicians have managed 1000's of acers of fertail land in their binomy names.
Hope future projects dont make the mistake and get a better return on their investment.
