Mumbai: Nobel laureate Amartya Sen on Thursday advocated a study on the impact of special economic zones (SEZs) on people, particularly based on good and bad experiences in emerging economies like China. "Does it serve the interest of developing opportunities for a lot of people without harming the interest of others or does it produce a cocoon where some people prosper and look down on others in the world, which requires thinking?" Sen told reporters on the sidelines of a Nasscom meet in Mumbai. "Though I have not studied it (SEZs), I am appalled to see how little has been studied," he said. Of the 23 SEZs approved by the government in the past year, 18 are IT-related. However, the industry has unanimously demanded an extension of the Software Technology Parks (STP) scheme, which provides multiple benefits to start-ups and small IT firms. Sen said the question of SEZs calls for answers from technical experts in the light of their effects on economies like China. "Is the huge increase in inequality in China connected with SEZs? The fact is it happened at the same time. And if it happened in China, than can it be prevented in India?" he wondered. "If it can't be prevented then is it the right thing to do despite the fact that it contributes to economic growth?" he questioned. (PTI)
