Tracking SEZs

Forced on the defensive in Singur, the CPM believes there is no better time to talk of the need for national guidelines on the acquisition of land for industry.

Forced on the defensive in Singur, the CPM believes there is no better time to talk of the need for national guidelines on the acquisition of land for industry. A front-page editorial in People’s Democracy says, “The complete package offered by the CPI(M)-led Left Front government in West Bengal is one of the best and, hence, needs to be emulated elsewhere. In this context, the ruthless acquiring of fertile agricultural land for Special Economic Zones (SEZ) needs to be urgently regulated.”

The suggestions are two fold: an old demand for a new Act on land acquisition; and changes in the new SEZ Act and rules to cover land acquisition, tax concessions, land use and labour laws. Responding to the government’s ‘Note on the issues raised by Left parties on the Special Economic Zones Act/Rules’ in which the government has negated nearly all the demands raised by the Left parties in their own note on special economic zones, the CPM identifies “proliferation of SEZ proposals and their en masse approvals” by the government as the factor that has discredited the SEZ policy. Referring to government claims that of the 237 SEZ approvals involving 34,510 hectares, no fresh land acquisition had taken place as land was already available with the state governments, SIDCs or private companies, the editorial says this established that “most of these projects were about to come up any way and the SEZ Act is being used to avail tax and other incentives which would not have otherwise accrued to these projects”.

Tribal bill

Following the passage of the Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Bill, the Left believes this is not merely a “significant victory” for tribal rights but the Left too for its successful interventions to bring changes in the original bill. CPM MP Brinda Karat in her article ‘A big step forward for tribal rights’ identifies some of these “major achievements” as shifting the cut-off year from 1980 to December 2005, including non-tribal traditional forest dwellers in the bill, giving recognition to the rights of tribal and traditional forest dwellers in protected areas and removing the penal provisions against tribals. Karat refers to repeated attempts by interested sections to stall the bill. She refers to a meeting between CPM members and the JPC chairperson prior to the passage of the bill. She says an urgent meeting with senior ministers was held even as the bill was being discussed in Parliament and it was decided to incorporate the amendments. However, it was passed by voice vote in Lok Sabha without the amendments.

Dalits in Gujarat

Where do dalits and tribals stand in Gujarat? In ‘Gujarat 2006: Life For Christians, Tribals And Dalits’, Nalini Taneja indicts Narendra Modi as well as politicians who collaborate with the Sangh Parivar. “Mayawati’s support for the BJP and the vicissitudes of electoral politics have created an intellectual atmosphere where the BJP does not become untouchable,” she says. As for tribals, she holds state policies and globalisation responsible for creating class conflicts within. “Emerging beneficiaries” then join hands with Sangh Parivar elements leading to the “dispossession” of the majority among them. Says Taneja, “In a state where the index of ‘development’ is higher than in many other states it is not surprising that a section of dalits can be mobilised for the Hindutva project.”

Compiled by Ananda Majumdar