Fight for rights of the poor

If the SEZ comes up I Raigadh, then the Pedder Road flyover must be built too

Last week was one of the biggest tests of democracy for our state. The Government of Maharashtra woke up a tad late to conduct a referendum on the development of the Special Economic Zones (SEZ).

The government has sanctioned approximately 30 SEZs in the Raigadh district. These are basically arable lands owned by mostly poor, illiterate farmers, that, bureaucrats and politicians have decided, are not giving substantial returns and yields to the farmers, and hence have allotted them to various industrialists.

The modern industries will function from concrete, glossy glass buildings that will replace the green belt. Now, the point here is before the lands were allotted, or chalked out for 'development', they are still 'privately' owned by the 'poor' farmers. Yes, I am reiterating the concept of how the owner has NOT been taken into confidence, or whose opinion has NOT been taken. This farmer has at no point ever complained or registered one with any authority, saying, "Please help, my crops do not give enough yield." No, instead until an agent lands up on his or her doorstep, the farmer is unaware that his land has been allotted for some development that he has NEVER seen or heard of.

The farmer, in addition, has been told he should take the amount he has been offered by the developer, or he stands to lose his land. If the farmer gets too emotional he is told he will be trained for some odd jobs in the factory and he will get a fixed income.

Try bringing the same concept into an urban setting. Imagine you have a flat and suddenly one day the builder comes and tells you to accept a certain amount and vacate the premises. You are told your building will be demolished and a new one will come up. The market rate of the apartment you own is NOT considered. You have not been consulted in advance. This, by the way, has happened to many in Mumbai. We will firstly think of our rights, the market price, and value of our property. We will go to court, file a petition and sue the developer for cheating. Plus residents will come together. If it is a
society, they will initiate legal action along the stated lines.

Years ago in the Raigadh district a similar situation took place. This involved, not only the poor, but rich corporate honchos as well. An area primarily dependent on rainwater for harvesting, this part of the state has always faced problems of land grab. Firstly, during the Shiv Sena-BJP rule, there was a romantic plan that the government envisaged: A floating airport.

One day, the government decided to claim a few hills and tribal farmland to build this airport. Thousands were to be displaced. Along the coast lay sprawling mansions and villas belonging to rich corporate honchos and businessmen.
Medha Patkar held protests and threatened to go on a fast, and she was ably supported by these rich businessmen. There were stories of how they claimed they would not give donations to political parties, and due to financial and higher pressure, the government had to buckle.

This is similar to the Raigadh SEZ issue. Many industrial houses are interested in developing areas for more industries, diversifying and creating more businesses. The claim being it will cerate more jobs, which will aid our booming economy. I have no doubt about that. But let me caution you. I am not one of those to be taken in by this whole economy boom and India zooming ahead of most nations. No, simply because we have too many disparities: Like the SEZ concept and land acquisition for the same.

In the latest case in Raigadh, the farmers were NOT informed in advance, and neither was their opinion sought. No
referendum was held when the whole SEZ concept was being introduced.

After the government passed a General Resolution to develop many areas in Raigadh for the SEZ, the first norm is that they should have conducted opinion polls. Instead the government and business developers put out statements that the land was not good. Plus, they simply went through the government and local politicians to acquire the farmers' land. Then they offered them a package that was not attractive.

These farmers may be poor and illiterate, but they are not stupid. They realised they are being short-changed and business houses would be raking millions of rupees on their land. They demanded the market price for their land. Now this is something the business houses and authorities did not like.

The socially active sanghatanas have been guiding the farmers and rightly so. They threatened to oppose the SEZ plan. They demanded a referendum and informed the government authorities that they failed to seek their opinion.

The lakhs of acres of land belonging to farmers do not give proper yield because of the failure on part of the authorities to explain the modern researches done in the field of agriculture. The state has among the best institutes for agricultural research and there are high-yield seeds being tested and sampled across the state.

None of which is being implemented or told to the poor farmer. Also, we have failed to educate the farmer, and his children. We have failed to train him to realise that his land can bring him double the yield from his crop and he can also rotate crops. He also does not need to depend on the rain, pesticides and fertilisers. The farmers in these areas can take help of innumerable state and central government schemes that can give him financial and technical aid.

Finally, occupational training and job opportunities are limited in such a case for a poor farmer. He will be compelled to do menial work -whether he is a local or not. Something that infuriates me. He is a self-respecting farmer today, who may be living in poverty. But he 'owns' his own piece of land. He is now being compelled to sell at below market value and has to work as class IV employee. This is modern subjugation.

It seems our government is in a hurry to replicate the China model. My journalist friend in Shanghai asked me to keep my eyes open when I boarded the train from Beijing to Shanghai. He asked me to look to the left when the train chugged out of Beijing station. One could see, on the horizon, the slums that were camouflaged by the surrounding skyscrapers.

Today, the educated claim the farmer deserves to be in poverty for opposing such projects. Developmental projects can't be
stopped in such a manner, which is legal and within the framework of the Indian Constitution. The government says Raigadh will be declared a No Development Zone district. That means that this area will not get power, roads, schools, hospitals, etc.

Can I please refresh your memory, dear reader? There is a lady in Mumbai. The Nightingale of our country and her voice is magic. I do not doubt her skill or talent. However, Lata Mangeshkar vehemently opposes the multi-crore Pedder Road flyover, which will help lakhs of commuters.

After the Bandra-Worli Sea Link, the project is now on hold only because of her protests, and she has threatened to leave the city, if it goes through. She is rich, and has the most modern studio that is sound proof. She, however, alleges the flyover and the vehicles using it will damage 'her' health! She took the help of a budding politician and the next thing we hear is the government has shelved the Pedder Road flyover.

Now, why is the government not declaring the Pedder Road area as a No Development Zone? Why is the richest businessman allowed to build a sprawling skyscraper there? These are questions the government will have to answer. The true test of democracy begins now.

k_neeta@dnaindia.net