Report by Aid Volunteer Nina

If pujo festivity was not quite marred by the rains it was surely marred by the raging Singur issues. Before going to Kolkata and since returning from there I have heard little about the plight of the people there. The leading national news papers and media are doing a good job of keeping it off the front-page for most of the time. The media attitude reminded me of the news coverage that Washington Post and New York Times gave to all those peace marches. Anyway, you may be more aware about Singur than I was or am at the moment. In the rest of the note I talk about Singur. It is my reflection rather than a news report. Details of the information could be accurate or not - but they are as I received and understood them.

Singur is rural area in southern Bengal not very far away from Kolkata. People are mostly farmers and the land is very fertile there giving 2 even 3 crops a year. The government in West Bengal trying to revive the industrial glory of the state has invited enterprises to be set up in the state. Mind you, as I have been told through local news and media, there are whole industrial estates now dead and lying still and idle in various parts of the state. Many dilapidated units are ready to be taken down and if funds available build afresh with new structures. Plus point is, these sick or dead estates are in declared industrial zone and have some industrial infrastructures which if renovated and maintained may get back some of their old glories.

The state government tried to entice many industries as they should - and TATA motors liked the idea of making a new car-manufacturing unit in West Bengal. BTW you must know that TATA is determined to bring to the market a personal car for the selling price of Rs.1 lakh (Rs.1 00 0000.00 (~US$2186). Some of these they would like to manufacture in West Bengal. Personally, I question the need and capability of having many more cheap (or otherwise) cars or in other words, think before we get into supplying more cars we need to think about and respond to some questions. Who are we making the cars for, who are paying for them - really? Who will provide, pay for, and maintain the needed infrastructure, petroleum supply, and who will ensure clean air for all? Anyway that is a different issue. For now, let’s take TATA’s venture as it stand – to be fine. Instead of gearing their attention to the existing dead, retrievable, or sick industrial units or estates the government made an offer that TATA could choose any land any where in the state. On government’s part they had to make this offer as other states are offering TATA heavy tax relief and other benefits which perhaps West Bengal cannot. So, they want to remain competitive. TATA choose Singur, – a healthy, multi-crop agricultural area, for whatever reason (likely ample fresh water availability is one of them – though this issue is not discussed in any news or coverage).

On National Interest (“Greater Common Good” as many so often quote) government can and have “bought off” land from farmers. Naturally as government agents started buying (read procuring) land there was objections and protests. This buying process therefore had to be under some coercion. Claims are the price offered is MUCH below the market rate. It seems as part of the land purchase deal, government was also promising ONE job per family (only one job likely to one male member of a family). This last promise TATA’s did not confirm and in fact publicly denied. They offered possibility of SOME job and possibility of SOME skill development training. From TATA’s point of view they were promised any land, they choose some land, and they want to make a unit. This other issues, rightfully so, the government have to deal with. The state government tells that TATA will get a “package deal” from the state also implying that the money the government is willing to pay the farmers is actually more than what TATAs will pay for. No clear information has been released, at least not to the common readers while I was in Kolkata - as to the price the TATAs will pay and what exactly is this “package deal”.

West Bengal government who long projected themselves as the keeper of the interests of the proletariats finally came down to force as many farmers did not want to part with their land. They beat them up, threatened, and ignored any objection. Their central party office even announced that there were no opposition and people were so glad about this new venture that they voluntarily offered to “sell” their land!!! This statement was made by Karat. Can you imagine? Only a few months back I read a book “Environmentalism and Left” and Karat had written the introduction. The book talks about environmental and social justice. This same Karat made this statement. It is unfortunate; perhaps even silence would have been better. Well, the opposition to the government has taken up the matter. Now they are the one standing beside the proletariats, until of course all these parties make some internal deal – and farmers are left stranded. One thing is clear that it is NOT important who is in power and which party is in opposition now. The fact remain that as far as the farmers, social and environmental justice issues are concerned this incident would have been played exactly the same way, if they players on the opposing sides were different.

Local media, vernacular news paper, local TV network are giving good coverage to the political drama in Sigur but issue based objective coverage about the people there and their lives and options are missing. [There was however, at least one -political analysis- that Tehelka published]. Somehow the interventions by the NRI came into the news. Petitions from noted scientists, researchers, and entrepreneurs of Indian origin have been sent (from California I think) to the Prime Minister with copy to the TATAs or it is the other way around I do not remember – requesting stalling their plans for Singur or finding an alternative site (in West Bengal or not I do not know). AID (Association of India’s Development) chapter based in California I think or may be AID as a whole – I read in one news clip, have aligned with an international human-rights group based in Malaysia working on food sovereignty and have sent their written petition to the state and central government. Will anything be done? Do not know. Singur continues to be absent in most national coverage – unless you are looking for it in some corner. TATA made it clear that if they do not get the land in Singur before or immediately after the Pujo festivities they will likely go to another state.

I think NRI intervention and petitions have helped and will help if more comes in. What will also help is an objective analysis of TATA’s choice, TRUE public hearing about the project, and discussion on the social/environmental issues and rights that are obviously violated at Singur. The idea is not to say NO to the developments but to integrate them well within the realm of justice and clean environment issues. This is something new, not done, in most developing countries, including ours. Because it is new, to set right – the process will be time consuming. It could be with right intent – but all these seem rather alien to the political parties, business houses, and unfortunately to the news media too.
That is all for now. Take care and Best wishes