-----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE----- Hash: SHA1 KOCHI
May 14, 2007 Smart City only supports the corporates Monday May 14 2007 09:51 IST <http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&ct=res&cd=1&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.newindpress.com%2FNewsItems.asp%3FID%3DIEX20070513232950%26Page%3DX%26Title%3DKochi%26Topic%3D0%26&ei=S-FPRr_TCaeesAK409neDQ&usg=AFrqEzdnnM-QOcHF3UZp89_GXePGalw-iw&sig2=U7EHf7p_lkMm8uaiair5jg> KOCHI: Just as the Smart City agreement was signed at Thiruvananthapuram, heralding a new chapter for the states development, a seminar on Smart City and Changing Kerala Society was held in Kochi on Sunday. The whole state is celebrating the big event, but speakers at the seminar pointed out the negative points in the agreement and the project. The seminar was organised jointly by the Institute for Social and Ecological studies, Kozhikode, Moving Republic, Thrissur, Keraleeyam and Haritha Mythri, Angamali. Speaking at the programme, Nizar Ahmad, faculty member of Sree Sankara University, Kalady, said that the Smart City project was against the IT policy of the State Government. He alleged that the project had nothing to do with the local economy. It only supports the corporates, he said. Among seven technopolises in India, Bangalore is the only surviving city. It is because of the booming BPO industry there. The same will be the case in Kochi, he said. As far as software development is concerned, the LDF Government is trying to put forward neo-liberal policies, said C K Raju, MES College, Kuttippuram. The government is not sure about the job opportunities available through the project. The concept of a centralised effort like Smart City has no role and in the long run, we need creative space, he said. The organisers of the seminar are planning to forward an appeal to the Chief Minister suggesting to put on hold the agreement with TECOM, to explore alternatives with civil society participants and to restore land resource to the displaced. The speakers at the seminar also suggested that the government should implement decentralised projects and publish research efforts. The government should take care to set up SEZs only after extensive referendums are carried out, they said. -----BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE----- Version: GnuPG v1.4.6 (GNU/Linux) iD8DBQFGT+LFF+jWtLmEaycRAtPKAJ9emrfwaQsglTef0IcQtwcBsONJagCbB0a2 krcbe8HP42MqidXgi97M3D4= =wYlg -----END PGP SIGNATURE----- --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ greenyouth mailinglist is the activist support mailinglist for kerala run by Global Alternate Information Applications (GAIA) To post to this group, send email to [email protected] -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
