Tata Singur

It has now been concluded that Tata will move out of Singur and Nano will not be rolled out from the state of West Bengal.

If we just look back and think about the events we find that the entire process is quite disturbing. I do not have anything against Tata or for that matter against industrialisation. If we want to bring the masses out of the vicious cirle of poverty, economic growth is a must and for economic growth, industrialisation is a must.

But suppose someone comes tomorrow and tells me that he wants to buy my home and he will pay twice its current market value. Will I be Ok giving it away. I do not think so and hence how can I expect a farmer who has an emotional attachment with the piece of land part away with it for the sake of industrialisation and economic growth. This is irrespective of the price being paid. One can argue that it is against the right to property.

However our govt. has been doing this under the law of 'eminent domain' and i do not think this is good for long term. This would further increase the income gap and create unrest in future. I certainly think that buying land after the concent of owner and that too not only for a price but for a share in profit from industrialisation will be the best way to economic growth. Suppose if every farmer of Singur was offered shares in Tata motors so that the upside of industrialisation is also shared among poor farmers, it would have been a better solution.

Lets ensure that we do not go against the 'right to development' in our bid for economic development.