Mr. S. B. Mishra, former Chief Secretary of Orissa
Speaking on the national issue of Special Economic Zones (SEZs), former Chief Secretary of Orissa, Mr. S. B. Mishra said that since MPs have passed this controversial law, they should also be answerable to the people of its implications.
SEZs: Boon or bane for Industrial Development?
Terming it as "the most controversial law in recent times and gravest policy error in Independent India" he said that the rationale behind SEZs that it would progress economic growth was questionable.
Giving a comparative profile of SEZs in China and in India, Mr. Mishra said that although the Indian SEZs have been modeled after China, they seem a total distortion of the Chinese models. While China has only six massive SEZs with state-of-the-art technology and modern facilities, India has proposals for 765, out of which 17 have been functioning and 234 cases have been cleared, he informed.
It’s a free for all kind of situation in India, where industrial houses and builders are competing to own SEZs, he said. While China has six specialized SEZs with modern infrastructure and facilities, in India the location could be anywhere and also could go as low as 10 hectares for IT related ventures. Also, in China the SEZs are a conglomerate of several industries, but in India it is given to single companies, which does not even have the capability to develop infrastructure needed in the areas. Whereas the tax concession in China is for only two years with 50% discount in the next two years, in India there is 100% tax concession for companies for five years and 50% for the next five years. |
Mr. S. B. Mishra
Former Chief Secretary, Orissa |
Mr. Mishra said that the serious problems associated with land acquisition for SEZs which has been causing human deprivation has also not been debated or discussed by the government before passing the law. He also spoke on the colossal loss of revenue for the state without commensurate benefits due to the formation of uncontrolled SEZs. Stating that only a very few, large-sized SEZs with all the modern infrastructure should be allowed by the government at the eastern and western coasts, Mr. Mishra requested the MPs and MLAs to resist the ‘misadventure of SEZs,’ and protest against the Government policy.
Mr. Ashok Das, senior media person
Elaborating on the importance of media, Mr. Ashok Das said that media has the power to affect everyday life. Besides providing the much required support for large-scale social changes, it also provides information, generates public opinion and creates awareness, he opined. However, with the changing socio-economic scenario, there has been a visible dip in the coverage of development issues in the media.
Media Activism: Shrinking space
‘A survey by an Orissa based NGO, CYSD in 1999, on the coverage of development issues in the print media of the State shows that Oriya dailies gave 4% coverage to development issues. The English media performed even dismally devoting even less than 1% space to development related articles and issues. Media seems to be obsessed with coverage of politics, sports, entertainment, advertisements etc and concentrates on development issues only after a disaster has struck or something drastic occurs. Dissemination of welfare schemes, impact of a development project etc are seldom given space. Stories need to be covered on a sustained basis to have the desired impact. When the voices of 40% of India's marginalized sections remain unheard, then how can we talk of their development?’
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Mr. Ashok Das
Senior Media Person, Bhubaneswar |
Narrating an example, Mr. Das said that state news and current affairs programmes in the regional channel had to be discontinued due to a policy decision by the Prasar Bharati. Govt. Policies too have an impact on the coverage of development issues. He appealed to the Parliamentarians that media related policies have to be amended and framed in such a way as to promote and encourage the coverage of development programmes.
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