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Goanet mourns the passing of Jorge de Abreu Noronha in Portugal - Nov 27/07
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More about SEZ
By: Fr. Lino Florindo
Executive Member of Goa's Movement Against SEZs [GMAS]
In September 2006 the Government of India gave approval to 267 Special
Economic Zones (SEZ): formal approval to 117 and 'in principle' approval fo
150. The total area approved is 1,40,000 acres, the Reliance Group being the
most favoured with 60,000 acres. These Zones are to be set up in different
states like Maharashtra (Nagpur, Navi Mumbai), Goa, Gujarat, Karnataka,
Kerala, Orissa, West Bengal, etc.
There is a groundswell of opposition to the SEZs in all these states,
especially West Bengal and Goa. In Nandigram, West Bengal, the opposition
was put down with an iron hand by the state Government ironically run by a
Party (CPM), which swears by the proletariat. In the ensuing violence many
people lost their lives and limbs. It was discussed in Parliament amidst
noisy, uproarious scenes.
The people of Goa have not received the SEZ kindly. It has been opposed for
well nigh a year now. At present there are at least three organizations
opposing it, namely Peoples Movement Against SEZ, SEZ Virodh Manch and Goa's
Movement Against SEZs - GMAS. The last mentioned has presented a Memorandum
to the Chief Minister of Goa, in which it has demanded freeze on all SEZ
proposals, including the ones, which are notified. With a view to creating
awareness among Goans, a vehicle rally was organized; so to a hunger strike
in the capital city. The GMAS has warned the government not to let the
problem simmer on the back burner lest a 'Nandigram' erupt in Goa . "SEZ
over our dead bodies" - is their unanimous feeling.
But the government is in no mood to listen; one is baffled by its deafening
silence. The government was pleading with the activists for time until the
International Film Festival of India (IFFI). Well, the IFFI is over, but the
response of the government is not forthcoming. (In the aftermath of the IFFI
the capital city is stinking to high heavens; the government has not yet
found a landfill to solve the problem of garbage once for all). One is also
baffled by the involvement of the Goa Chamber of Commerce and Industry
(GCCI), which has emerged as the key player in this case. At the instance of
the GCCI and the suggestion of the CLP "to consider people's feelings" a
ministerial panel is going to be set up to 'review' the whole issue. It may
be too much for this panel to suggest more than a few synthetic changes,
especially if a Minister heads it; the issue may remain unresolved.
Alleging a huge scam of Rs. 500 crore, the GMAS has demanded a White Paper
on the issue. A member of this organization has publicly revealed the name
of a person from whom the CM allegedly demanded a huge bribe. If so, can we
trust him? Can we expect anything better from his ministerial colleagues?
The review panel may only be eyewash to hoodwink gullible Goans. A judicial
probe is certainly in order. We do not want shady deals; total transparency
in such deals is the need of the hour.
The SEZs are not an Industry; hence do not come under the purview of
Industries Act. Their beneficiaries will be real estate developers, large
corporate houses, film stars, politicians and bureaucrats; not the aam
aadmi in whose name the government is run. It is a massive fraud inflicted
on the peace-loving people of Goa. Around 120 lakh square meters will be
taken; it will generate 4.5 lakh jobs. The question is: for whom? There
are (only) 82,000 jobless people in Goa today. Assuming that all of them
will benefit from the largesse of the SEZs, who will get the remaining
3,68,000 jobs? No prize for guessing - hordes from other states will make a
beeline to this eldorado. This massive influx of migrants will radically and
forever alter the demography of this tiny state, stretching its
infrastructural facilities, already under severe strain, to the limit. More.
There will be irreversible damage to the environment & ecology, to
agriculture, green belts, to flora & fauna. And it is very likely that all
this will have adverse effects on the morality and ethical behaviour of our
youth.
All that has been written above holds true of SEZs in other states as well.
Thanks to Globalization, the stakes are high. There is a systematic attempt
orchestrated by big businesses, in connivance with the Ministry of Commerce,
to deprive our people of their fundamental right and most cherished
possession: LAND. Our long-suffering people have now woken up and have begun
to assert their rights. This augurs well for our Democracy. More than 25,000
people recently, under the banner of EKTA Parishad, went on a long 350 km
march from Gwalior to Delhi. This Janadesh Yatra was undertaken in order to
"retrieve people's land and livelihood." The march was non-violent. It began
on October 2, Gandhi Jayanti, and ended on October 28, in the Capital. The
government was forced to swing into action.
That is the way forward! We need to galvanize our people for action and
ensure that their enthusiasm and zeal does not flag, that they are not cowed
down by the enormity of the challenge. We are not asking what belongs to
others. We are asking that the government should serve our interests, not
the interests of this MNCs, the corporate world, and the
politician-police-criminal nexus. How one wishes that an inspirational
figure like Ain Rand were with us in our struggle, to remind us of the
'virtue of selfishness!' It is wrong, utter wrong, to feed somebody else's
children at the cost of one's own (cf. Mk 7:27). At this point of our
ongoing history, we Indians need to assert ourselves over against all forms
of colonization: Politico-economic, socio-cultural, religious, etc.
There seems to be a ray of hope on the horizon now. According to newspaper
reports, the Union Cabinet has decided that the person/group who wants to
promote a SEZ has to be the owner of at least 70 per cent of the
respective plot/land; the government will grant the remaining 30 per cent.
If this is true, it is indeed good news. It is said, 'When God closes one
door, he opens another." Perhaps God who, through his Son made a
'preferential option for the poor' has heard the cries of distress of his
people.
But this may not be the end. Our struggle is far from over. We have many
more Goliaths to face - and conquer. And conquer we will, because, as St.
Paul asks, "If God is for us, who can be against us?" (Rom. 8:31). A caution
may be sounded, though. Pope Paul VI in his classic Encyclical Popularum
Progressio (30-31) has told us that it is legitimate to get redress for our
grievances. But violence is illegitimate, except in extreme cases. It is
good to keep this in mind lest our agitations snowballs into more
NANDIGRAMS.
(-Fr. Agnelo's Call, December- 2007)
COMMENTS:
GMAS, in its Executive Meeting held on 28 November, 2007 has decided on the
following:
To organize 'SEZ HATAO YATRAS' in the South as well as in the North to cover
entire Goa and to bring awareness to the people of Goa the meaning and the
repercussion of SEZs in Goa.
This Yatra will also get the people to pour into the Capital City, at the
Azad Maidan for a massive meeting on 18th December, 2007.
This meeting will give the final ultimatum to the government incase it has
not decided to scrap all SEZs in Goa. After that, massive agitations will
start and Goa will feel the brunt, leaving the government no other choice
but to scrap all SEZs. The Ruling Coalition members will be targeted
individually and severally.
A PRO Cell has been formed comprising of prominent, non-politician citizens
to talk to other Anti-SEZ organizations and groups so that they all come
together for just one goal - NO SEZs inGoa. And to work together towards
18th December Meeting and the deadline thereafter.
Floriano - goasuraj
Executive Member GMAS
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GOA needs a 'REVOLUTION' if it is to see better days.
Goasuraj is that revolution. It needs your support.
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