- -------- Original Message --------
Subject: [??.??.??.?] Re: Fwd: {greenyouth} Re {greenyouth} A revisit
to "The dotCommunist Manifesto" by Eben Moglen
Date: Sat, 2 Jun 2007 15:02:54 +0530
From: Joseph Mathew <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Reply-To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
I am not too sure whether Raju is in this list because I see that most
of his mails are forwarded. Could we have him in ?
--
Joseph,
I left the list on my own, especially after I discovered that some of my
opinions were troubling a few. I thought none should get injured that way and
left. There's still plenty of virtual space and creativity left.
--
Raju, Smart City is an SEZ but all SEZ is not Smart City.It seems the
fight against SEZ is now against Smart City.
The central government is providing tax benefits for SEZ which is not at all
needed. I agree to your views in another mail which says this group should
instead be taxed more as it is comparitively wealthier. The other issue with
SEZ is regarding providing large extent of land as SEZ with very diluted land
utilization norms.
--
A few like me believe that SEZ is part of an evolutionary phase of neoliberal
policies getting implemented in various countries across the globe. The serious
issue is that when such SEZs - 12 of them in fact - get implemented in our
state - it may be industries department, but its part of a single government -
there is an unchartered principle inherent in a vibrant democracy that its
constituent people should be allowed to debate on the pros and cons before any
decisive step is taken. Being transparent doesn't solve, you can put up the
clause somewhere and say its there. But wouldn't it have been better if people
were allowed to discuss, debate and decide. After all its their lives which get
affected - those down the order suffer most - so it should have been their
voice that should have been heard most. But this govt, like any other govt, has
gone ahead in a discreet manner - taking representative democracy as an excuse
of legitimacy - and had decided on a crucial issue. I hope you will appreciate
this aspect.
--
About the tax sops given to SEZ by the central government we couldn't
do anything.If we say no SEZ in Kerala then also Central government
would not have saved a penny as an SEZ anywhere else in India also have
the same tax sops. About the extent of land and its utilization we have
added strict conditions to curb the real estate instinct to utilize the
land for other purposes. In fact 70% built up space setting aside for IT is
more space utilisation than in Technopark.We have also restricted the land to
246 acres which again is less than Technopark.
--
These issues on land utilisation are the ones that UDF camp is raising. I don't
share those views especially the way they build up arguments. But the document
at sezindia.nic.in quote a figure of 400 hectares against Smart city - which is
roughly of the order of 1000 acres. How come this discrepancy ? Again, that is
not my central argument.
Regarding tax sops and other such facilities - don't you agree that government
is pushing ahead a development model where it is concentrating on only few
sectors - productive, wealthiest - which can be called as a vertical growth
model. Isn't it different from the horizontal growth model that we were known
for ? Are these the only groups who should be of concern to a government -
which has been elected to power by the poorest of people.
--
If you have any other issues regarding SEZ ,please share that . All
labour laws within the state apllicable to other parks will prevail in
Smart City too. Why were these objections not raised when right to
organize was deprived in state owned IT parks? Why not welcome the move
to specifically state in the policy that employees will have the right
to organise?
--
There are serious issues regarding SEZs - especially for what is appears to aim
at - dethroning the space for governments and citizens, and be part of a global
state where there are only subjects. The government is becoming a victim of
this neoliberal agenda, by allowing its democratic state to acquire, display
and retain marketocratic dimension.
Media may assist you here, because their status will not get affected,
professionally. But our voices will - as we get denigrated from citizens to
subjects. I hope you will appreciate my concern.
Rgds,
CK Raju
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