Tuesday, January 09, 2007

Singur, Nandigram et al...

First of all, let me admit that the happenings in these 2 villages in WB are really disturbing. The violence, the deaths, the bloodshed, it all just gives us the feeling that while we progress at 8% p.a. economy-wise, somewhere in a far corner of the rural India, it really does not make any difference to the society.

If only governments REALLY cared for the public and assured their due diligence, this situation would have been avoided. But all that analysis crap is in hindsight.

Progress, they say, is not a spike, but a gradual process, and hence the name 'progress'. India, on the contrary, is just zooming ahead with Urban areas developing at an exponential rate. There is no justification one can give to this spectacular growth and the money thats getting infused. What happens next is anyone's guess.

Never before have any state government seen so much FDI coming to its doorsteps. AP govt's landmark $3 bn Semiconductor Fab deal being the torchbearer in this context. So while all this happens, our state govt gets pressurized. In a sense it is bringing things to speed, but on the other hand there is no balancing mechanism to over see all these activities. Thank God, Naidu had done his homework well that at least in Hyderabad and adjoining districts (Rangareddy, Medak, Sangareddy etc) available land is labeled.

WB on the other hand is on a roller coaster ride. Suddenly Buddhadeb realized that he has to cover a lot of ground before he even comes closer to what smaller states like Uttaranchal, Jharkhand, CG etc are doing - FDI infusion is driving success. So it starts to realize that it also has to invest in SEZs and all that jazz. And Nandigram happened.

I am not entirely sure, but one thing keeps popping in my head - Every state needs to realize its core competency. I know its a cliched word but it has to come. Maharashtra used its industries, AP software and Punjab/Haryana agriculture. Is it that difficult for state govts to see where the true potential lies?

Here is to the future, one that makes Orissa the most mineral rich state and WB the rice bowl of the country!!

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