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Symposium on Pre-Primary & Primary School Education & Primary School Students Chess Tournament More information at: http://lists.goanet.org/pipermail/goanet-goanet.org/2008-January/068222.html --------------------------------------------------------------------------- http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2008/01/23/stories/2008012350730900.htm Why Goa does not need SEZs How can 18 SEZs be allowed within the dot-sized Goa? Development has to be totally based on the needs of the State, with a vision for growth and not for the sake of so-called development. Opposing SEZs does not mean protest against industrialisation. Matahny Saldanha Laws are made to benefit and serve the largest number of people. These laws are sometimes good, but if they are bad, inimical to the interests of the people, we need to change them. Laws are made not to serve some but the majority. To say that a notified Special Economic Zones (SEZs) cannot be de-notified is absurd because it is anti-society. Goa is a small State, with an area of just 3,704 square km, and a population of nearly 15 lakh. It has the highest population density of 450 people per square km as against 150 for the all-India average. In this context, giving away 1,20,770 meters of land from Goa's scarce land resource for 18 SEZs with no benefits to the State was not acceptable to Goa 's Movement Against SEZs (GMAS) and the people at large. Unemployment problem The promoters of the SEZs have been arguing that the main reason for establishing the SEZs in Goa is to generate employment for the locals. However, Goa's unemployment problem is more imaginary than real. Even if we accept that 80,000 unemployed are listed on the live register of the employment exchange, this figure has not been reviewed or updated for the last 30-40 years and is, therefore, no proof of unemployment in Goa. Yet, the government has been approving projects in the name of the unemployed. Existing industries already employ nearly 80 per cent of the workers who are migrants from the other States. If the unemployment problem in Goa was so serious, there would have been no need for such a migration. The former Chief Minister, Mr Pratap Singh Rane, who has always operated on an ad hoc basis, had approved 15 SEZs and welcomed many more, all in the name of unemployment, growth and development. These approvals were granted on demi-official notes, without any Cabinet decision and with scant regard for the institution of democracy. Anyway, 17 out of 18 SEZs are supposed to generate 9,27,100 jobs. The question is from where will this workforce come, especially since Goa just does not have the numbers required, nor does it have such a large quantum of skilled or unskilled labour. This obviously means that Goa will witness an influx of 8,47,100 persons from all over the country, perhaps much more as many workers also bring their families. How can a small State with the highest population density, already facing a serious crunch in water supply and electricity, with no space to dump and dispose of its garbage, sustain such an enormous influx? Now, consider the infrastructure. Existing roads in Goa are narrow, with the number of vehicles rising virtually with every passing day. Imagine the plight of local Goans with lakhs of outside workers settling down in the region. An influx of this kind is bound to change the social fabric and the demography of Goa, with serious increases in crime rates and other social and economic problems. Demographic imbalance A demographic imbalance is bound to have serious repercussions on the tourism industry as it will lead to a drastic change in the social and cultural environment of the State. An influx of this kind into Goa will increase the pressure on its scarce land resources, reduce the greenery and disturb the ecological balance, thereby denying Goa its unique environment which is responsible for drawing a large number of tourists to this State, making it the sixth best tourism destination in the world. Besides, there is no revenue for the State as SEZs are exempt from all forms of taxes, and neither the State nor the Centre has any jurisdiction over the SEZs. How can we allow 18 republics within the dot-sized Goa? Development has to be totally based on the needs of the State, with a vision for growth and for the sake of so-called development. This will only destroy the existing development and progress. Cancellation of SEZs Interestingly, it must be noted that the demand for cancellation of SEZs in Goa came not from any anti-establishment group or single-minded environmentalists. It came from the grassroots; practically every gram sabha has demanded the abolition of all the SEZs in the State, as well as the SEZ policy. Moreover, the cancellation of SEZs has been the demand of all the political parties, including the ruling Congress coalition and its partners. It is also the demand of practically all the NGOs and the trade unions, as well as Youth for Goa, a forum comprising the students and the youth of Goa. Against this total opposition to the SEZs, the question of a law in force not permitting de-notification of the three notified SEZs appears irrelevant. Under the quasi-federal constitution of India, any State that is in threat of losing its very character and identity has all the rights to seek protection for its existence by demanding the review of the law. Opposing SEZs, IT parks, new townships, special fishing zones, special tourism zones does not mean protest against industrialisation. We want industries that are environment-friendly, based on the availability of manpower within the State, and those which are sustainable and not exploitative of labour. (The author is the convenor of Goa's Movement Against SEZs, which led the recent opposition against the SEZs in Goa. He was the State's Tourism Minister in 2004 in the M. Parikker government.)