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.
