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.
