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With the Board of Approval (BOA) of the Special Economic Zones (SEZs) granting 36 formal approvals and 9 in-principle approvals, the total number of SEZs being granted formal approval is 339. Of these, 126 have so far been notified. But the issue is far from being settled and politicization of Economics has shown its ugly face yet again with several leaflets of Maoist literature being found on Orissa High Court premises asking people to oppose the formation of SEZs and other development projects.
I think with the recent approvals, the sad incidents of Nandigram are more likely to be repeated. Then where is the government going wrong? Although the BOA has informed the state governments that they should undertake acquisition of land for SEZs only when 100% of the owners give their consent, there is hardly any guarantee that political parties would not take advantage of the situation in inciting the innocent mass. I strongly believe that actually the concept of SEZ, or for that matter land acquisition, was not thought through properly. The general mass, mostly from the farming sector, gets a feeling that the government is using the instrument of the Land Acquisition Act to deprive a class of citizens and aid another set of citizens.
I think the government should bring in certain amendments in the Land Acquisition Act so that the landowners too don't feel cheated. My biggest fear however is that to get out of this situation, the government might try a political gimmick and pass on the buck to the private sector. Its latest view that job reservations in the private sector should be made mandatory is a case in point. As was observed by several political bigwigs that there should be a provision to make it mandatory for the beneficiaries of SEZs to develop wasteland in exchange for allocation of farm land, might be the short-cut for a short-sighted government to steer clean of this unholy mess.
This seems to be unfair because, it is a ploy to make the owner of the land a serviceman, or in other words a slave. He will have no voice of his own in the corporate house that has been built on his land.
Instead why not think of giving him partial ownership i.e. making him a sleeping partner or giving a certain percentage of the company as a share holder. At least he has some voice of his own and a special recognition in the company. Plus job reservations should be made mandatory for the private sector, but optional for the land looser, so that his next generation can appreciate the meaningful sacrifice of his past generations. Their contribution to Nation Building may be small, but very important and all the more crucial. Without the sacrifice of land by the owner nothing is possible.
Unless the culture for appreciating the land losers is not developed in the right sense and right direction by Indians, we do not deserve the sweet fruits of development. The land loser are the unsung heroes. If political parties are able to sing a song for land losers, they may see people voluntarily giving their land for the development of the nation and for the reason that their coming generations may lead a life of respect instead of pity.
** This valuable piece of information has been sent to us by Mr. Rajen Jayendra Bhatt from Meticulous Creations.
Both Mr. Khosla and Mr. Bhatt have made certain valid points. Unless the people whose land is being taken away are not taken along the development/ industraliazation will only be meaningless. We need to make sure that all categories of the society should be benefited by India's robust economic growth. However I would also like to add that the government cannot force the private sector to do charity work. The government too should have to find ways to help the farming class.
Money Management Consultants Ltd
New Delhi, India
Free Member, Joined :05/11/2007
No of Topics Posted : 113
Reply/Comments : 14
I agree with this regarding the land owner's benefits. The government has to confirm that the land owners should not be losers. Most important is that the benefits of SEZs should go to all business people. Otherwise only big or businessmen close to politicians will get the benefits of SEZs. At present small business houses feel that SEZs are only for big companies like Reliance.
** This comment has been sent to us by Mr. Mukund Parmar from Emkay Flexi Pack
Mr Bikky's apprehensions are not unfounded seeing the recent violent protests. The Govt. seems to be confused. It is unable to balance capitalism of the West and socialism as enshrined in our Constitution. Rightly, the Govt. should have a relook its SEZ policy before it's too late. The Govt. is only trying to imbalance the social & economic structure of the country in the name of economic progress by creating centres of economic power. The rise and ultimate takeover of our country's governance by East India Company is still fresh in the minds of the people. It is already showing signs of uprising in the form of nexalism which is usually seen whenever the democratic forms of protests against the Govt. fail. The Govt. should allay such fears of India in general and of deprivations of poor land owners at the cost of enrichment of few corporate groups. There needs to be national debate on this burning issue.
Institute of Applied Systems & Rural Development (IASRD)
Noida, India
Free Member, Joined :10/09/2006
No of Topics Posted : 0
Reply/Comments : 1
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