Bhubaneswar, June 27: Social activists of 10 states who had gathered here for a two-day convention on displacement and SEZ policy resolved to fight against the anti-farm and anti-people move of MNCs and the land grab that was taking place in the country.
Scarp the SEZ law, repeal the Land Acquisition Act and put a halt to all land grab processes taking place in the country, demanded the social activists.
Former Lok Sabha Speaker Mr Rabi Ray felt ‘civil disobedience’ is the answer to the question of mindless industrialisation and formation of SEZs taking place. He urged the participants to “teach and train” people about the adverse affects of these policies.
Mr Vilas Sonawane of Maharastra-based Maha Mumbai Setkari Sangram Samiti said that while agriculture was contributing about 4.5 per cent of the GDP a decade ago, it has slipped to 2.2 per cent. More than 14 lakh hectares of land are grabbed for SEZs and that will result in acute food stuff shortage. There are about 400 SEZs in the world and China has only six, whereas India proposes to set up more than 500 SEZs without any serious consideration for its future perspective, he added.
Mr Saroj Kumar, representative of Kashipur-based Prakrutika Sampad Surakshya Parishad observed that while 78 per cent of total investment in the country in mineral-based and other big industries generate only three per cent of total employment, agriculture is alone responsible for more than 65 per cent employment. Hence, more emphasis should be laid on agriculture and other related activities including village and small scale industries.
Leave a reply