The continuing agitation by farmers in Singur who are vehemently against the Tatas
building their small car factory on their farmlands has unnerved India’s premier
corporate group. The state government and the Tatas have found the Trinamool
Congress backed violent agitation too hot to handle. A cloud of uncertainty hangs over
the fate of the project in West Bengal. The Tatas may move out of the state and shift to
a more hospitable location elsewhere.
Singur is now a name known all over the world. A section of farmers who are unwilling to part with their land have
carried on a violent agitation that has made the
Tatas do a serious rethink about continuing at
Singur. However, not all the farmers in Singur
want to persist with farming. A large number of
them willingly sold it off for a handsome
compensation.
There are large numbers of farmers who have
happily sold off their land to be used for setting up
the Tata's car factory or for its ancillary units. But
enough of them have opposed the land sale to
give Tatas the jitters and even make them
threaten to leave West Bengal for more welcoming
climes.
Mamata Banerjee and the Trinamool Congress
supported agitation could not have been so successful if the farmers of Singur were not really on the warpath.
Enough of them are disgruntled to have led to this agitation. Many of them are pointing out that a one time
compensation for the land sale will not feed them all their lives.
Their reasoning is valid. There are reports of numerous farmers having sold off their land in areas around Delhi
owing to the growing urbanisation of the national capital region and then having literally blown up the money
within a short period and then having to face the consequences. So the concerns of the Singur farmers are
genuine as they point out that the land will always give them a livelihood but mere cash will not last for ever.
At the same time, with fragmentation of holdings, revenue from agriculture is gradually declining. This situation
has been acknowledged by the Left Front government in West Bengal led by Buddhadeb Bhattacharya which
has recognized that there is need for farmers to move into other sectors of the economy. In such a scenario,
innovative ways to provide farmers both compensation as well a long term livelihood need to be incorporated into
future land acquisition agreements.
The compromise formula that is sought to be hammered out currently by the West Bengal Governor
Gopalkrishna Gandhi with the state government and Mamata Bannerjee apparently envisages providing jobs to
each family that is being uprooted. Reports have also appeared in the media about large industry trying to take a
new approach to dealing with farmers whose land is being acquired for special economic zones. The aim should
obviously be to ensure that the farmer's family does not lose out in the long run after selling their land.
building their small car factory on their farmlands has unnerved India’s premier
corporate group. The state government and the Tatas have found the Trinamool
Congress backed violent agitation too hot to handle. A cloud of uncertainty hangs over
the fate of the project in West Bengal. The Tatas may move out of the state and shift to
a more hospitable location elsewhere.
Singur is now a name known all over the world. A section of farmers who are unwilling to part with their land have
carried on a violent agitation that has made the
Tatas do a serious rethink about continuing at
Singur. However, not all the farmers in Singur
want to persist with farming. A large number of
them willingly sold it off for a handsome
compensation.
There are large numbers of farmers who have
happily sold off their land to be used for setting up
the Tata's car factory or for its ancillary units. But
enough of them have opposed the land sale to
give Tatas the jitters and even make them
threaten to leave West Bengal for more welcoming
climes.
Mamata Banerjee and the Trinamool Congress
supported agitation could not have been so successful if the farmers of Singur were not really on the warpath.
Enough of them are disgruntled to have led to this agitation. Many of them are pointing out that a one time
compensation for the land sale will not feed them all their lives.
Their reasoning is valid. There are reports of numerous farmers having sold off their land in areas around Delhi
owing to the growing urbanisation of the national capital region and then having literally blown up the money
within a short period and then having to face the consequences. So the concerns of the Singur farmers are
genuine as they point out that the land will always give them a livelihood but mere cash will not last for ever.
At the same time, with fragmentation of holdings, revenue from agriculture is gradually declining. This situation
has been acknowledged by the Left Front government in West Bengal led by Buddhadeb Bhattacharya which
has recognized that there is need for farmers to move into other sectors of the economy. In such a scenario,
innovative ways to provide farmers both compensation as well a long term livelihood need to be incorporated into
future land acquisition agreements.
The compromise formula that is sought to be hammered out currently by the West Bengal Governor
Gopalkrishna Gandhi with the state government and Mamata Bannerjee apparently envisages providing jobs to
each family that is being uprooted. Reports have also appeared in the media about large industry trying to take a
new approach to dealing with farmers whose land is being acquired for special economic zones. The aim should
obviously be to ensure that the farmer's family does not lose out in the long run after selling their land.
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