By U A Shimray
The editorial of Economic and Political Weekly (August 4, 2007) mentioned: “At the same time, a new rhetoric of development now binds the Centre and the North-east into a fresh relationship that does away entirely with the earlier involvement of the local community. For instance, the Democratic Alliance Government of Niephiu Rio, elected in 2003, has pursued development aggressively. Recently a multi-product 400 hectare special economic zone was cleared for Nagaland. And the Oil and Natural Gas Corporation, in alliance with the Canadian firm Canaro, announced its decision to resume exploration activities in the State 13 years after it was first driven out by the NSCN-IM on grounds that exploration could not continue without the consent of local communities.”
Indeed, the neo-liberal economic ‘reforms’ in India saw a rapid increase of mass protests against the Special Economic Zones (SEZs) is one case. For instance, Raigad (Maha- rashtra), Jhajjhar (Haryana) and Nandigram (West Bengal) cutting across all sections of people rose up in protest, with Nandigram recording the worst casualty of at least 14 deaths in police firing on 14 March 2007. Such protests came in the wake of growing struggles against land acquisitions for industries (SEZS). Way back in 1965, the SEZ has its predecessor called the Export Processing Zones (EPZs). The EPZs which are ‘industrial zones with special incentives to attract foreign investment in which imported materials undergo some degree of processing before being exported again’ (The International Labour Organisation, 1998). “EPZs emerged in response to the emergence of finance and global capital as the major economic players, the rapidly accumulating capital that seeks to move out to invest, the growing competition between developing nations to attract foreign direct investment and the thirst of capital to have an unfettered play in the pursuit of profit” (Bijoy, “Special Economic Zones: Profit At Any Cost,” Memo). The SEZs are nothing but the upgraded version of EPZs based on the “success” model of China. Through SEZs, the Indian state gives further free hand for the market to operate. The giving of primacy to industries over agriculture is part of growth driven development. As a result of this policy there is a bee-line for acquiring fertile and non-fertile agricultural lands. This in fact robs people from their subsistence livelihoods by displacing them permanently.
Remote eastern frontier States are also touched by the wave of so-called “globalisation.” Hitherto, the wave is coming in the form of market and resource extraction. As now the State is poaching natural resources like mineral wealth including uranium, hydro-power, oil, natural beauty so-called eco-tourism relentlessly in the Northeastern region. Moreover, the region is seen as “hot-spot” to promote economic investments through multilateral agencies including World Bank and Asian Development Bank and also, proposed Asian railways and Trans Asian highway to the East Asia. Such trends of investment inevitably would change the very face of the region.
In this backdrop, recently, Mr. Rio-led Naga-land Government invited multilateral agencies and trustees like Ratan Tata Trust to the Naga Hills. Nagaland is the first State that was registered on the map of upcoming SEZs in India from the North Eastern region. Right now, Mr. Rio’s Government appro-ved two SEZs. First one is to be developed by M/S H.N. Company in Dimapur. Second proposed SEZ is related with Specific Agro Food Processing Special Economic Zone and to convert the existing Export Promotion Industrial Park (EPIP) at Ganeshnagar, which is to be promoted by Nagaland Industrial Development Cooperation Limited (NIDC). Mr. Pillai, Commerce Secretary said: “The multi-product zone proposed in Nagaland will come up over 400 hectares and land is in possession of the developer” (Expressindia.com, July 12, 2007). Coincidentally all these developments took place during the present interim period of Naga peace process, which in turn creates doubts over the veracity of the ceasefire reached between New Delhi and NSCN-IM.
If the trends continue to materialise, the region of Naga Hills is going to experience economic growth based development. It is a direct fallout of global-isation as globalisation demands the integration of markets. In this process the subsistence economies of livelihoods would be destroyed in the name of growth induced development. As a result Naga community will be alienated from their cultures, economies, polity due to displacement. This kind of trend will only result in conflicts and tension.
With regards to the Naga Hills, a new economic incentive is rather observed as “unhealthy” trend. The basic deliberation here is Naga Hills are really on the way of “economic-shining,” that would be based on market economy. On the other hand, market has potential tools that will create social classes based on economic assets (so-called middle class/upper class). In fact such trend could detour support base of the any socio-political movement in the region. Nevertheless, economic policies driven by the neo-liberal economic process would undermine or rather dilute the Naga political process. Or, can economic investment “rescue” Naga political imbroglio. This invite serious thought.
Not only SEZs, but Nagaland indicated positive nod to the ONGC and Canoro Resources Ltd., to extract crude oil from Champang, under Wokha district. According to the report (“Champang Oil: US$ 115 million for Nagaland Govt,” The Morung Express, 31 August 2007), the Canoro president is in touch with the NSCN-IM. Canora further said that the Naga underground outfit has expressed support if the company’s oil ambitions are consonant with the ‘wishes of the people.’ Also the company would consider the history of the Naga people; it is imperative that the people’s sentiments as well as of the Government, be kept in focus. The report mentioned that the stakeholders include Nagaland Government, local public, Naga outfits and ONGC.
Sometimes reflections cause “uneasiness.” Calcutta based national daily The Telegraph (April 12, 2007) under the caption of “Armoured for Big Business- Defence equipment firm chooses Nagaland over Malaysia,” writes: “By the end of this year, Nagaland might well be exporting ballistic body armour and load-bearing equipment to Baghdad and Washington.” The report claimed that the Armour would acquire about 50 acres land near Dimapur to prepare armoured vehicles and bullet-proof vests. Mr. Rio’s Government is obviously ecstatic as the project promises initial employment for at least 100 people, not to speak of the potential for growth of ancillary units. No doubt, the products manufactured here have been earmark for use by the US Allied Forces in Iraq. Indeed, to produce mass destructive equipments in Naga Hills is a shameful thing. Nevertheless, it is total insult to those Nagas who protagonist against war.
Certainly, such emerging of economic incentive (policies) in Naga Hills is astounding. Either SEZ or extraction of oil are in contrast with the special status warranted to the State of Nagaland under the Indian Constitution where “no Act of Parliament in respect of religious, social practices, customary law and procedure, ownership and transfer of land and its resources…” The Morung Express (31 august 2007) reported: “...a Group of Ministers set up to finalize a relief and rehabilitation policy today decided in Delhi to give State Govts a discretion to acquire 30 per cent of the land required for an industrial project or special economic zones provided the developer has acquired the balance. State Governments can now acquire 30 per cent of the land on behalf of the project developer if the company has already taken 70 per cent of the land in possession.”
In such juncture, one can reflect Tibet scenario. The recent N.Ram’s article “Future Tibet” (Frontline, July 27, 2007) concludes as: “…the future of the Tibet Autonomous Region and the extensive Tibetan autonomous areas that form part of four major provinces will be- in their differentiated and distinctive ways- with one China.” China’s policy in Tibet claims that Chinese Government developed the region within a short span of time. The whole article proclaimed a good work done for the Tibet by the Chinese.
Indeed, this is how the Chinese intrinsically manoeuvre to divert the Tibetan’s political aspirations. New Delhi seems to be emulating the Chinese model not only in the case of SEZs, but also in dealing political aspirations of the struggles for self-determination. Moreover, such market-based inducement will in the long run undermine the Naga political movement.
Source: The Sangai Express Online
The editorial of Economic and Political Weekly (August 4, 2007) mentioned: “At the same time, a new rhetoric of development now binds the Centre and the North-east into a fresh relationship that does away entirely with the earlier involvement of the local community. For instance, the Democratic Alliance Government of Niephiu Rio, elected in 2003, has pursued development aggressively. Recently a multi-product 400 hectare special economic zone was cleared for Nagaland. And the Oil and Natural Gas Corporation, in alliance with the Canadian firm Canaro, announced its decision to resume exploration activities in the State 13 years after it was first driven out by the NSCN-IM on grounds that exploration could not continue without the consent of local communities.”
Indeed, the neo-liberal economic ‘reforms’ in India saw a rapid increase of mass protests against the Special Economic Zones (SEZs) is one case. For instance, Raigad (Maha- rashtra), Jhajjhar (Haryana) and Nandigram (West Bengal) cutting across all sections of people rose up in protest, with Nandigram recording the worst casualty of at least 14 deaths in police firing on 14 March 2007. Such protests came in the wake of growing struggles against land acquisitions for industries (SEZS). Way back in 1965, the SEZ has its predecessor called the Export Processing Zones (EPZs). The EPZs which are ‘industrial zones with special incentives to attract foreign investment in which imported materials undergo some degree of processing before being exported again’ (The International Labour Organisation, 1998). “EPZs emerged in response to the emergence of finance and global capital as the major economic players, the rapidly accumulating capital that seeks to move out to invest, the growing competition between developing nations to attract foreign direct investment and the thirst of capital to have an unfettered play in the pursuit of profit” (Bijoy, “Special Economic Zones: Profit At Any Cost,” Memo). The SEZs are nothing but the upgraded version of EPZs based on the “success” model of China. Through SEZs, the Indian state gives further free hand for the market to operate. The giving of primacy to industries over agriculture is part of growth driven development. As a result of this policy there is a bee-line for acquiring fertile and non-fertile agricultural lands. This in fact robs people from their subsistence livelihoods by displacing them permanently.
Remote eastern frontier States are also touched by the wave of so-called “globalisation.” Hitherto, the wave is coming in the form of market and resource extraction. As now the State is poaching natural resources like mineral wealth including uranium, hydro-power, oil, natural beauty so-called eco-tourism relentlessly in the Northeastern region. Moreover, the region is seen as “hot-spot” to promote economic investments through multilateral agencies including World Bank and Asian Development Bank and also, proposed Asian railways and Trans Asian highway to the East Asia. Such trends of investment inevitably would change the very face of the region.
In this backdrop, recently, Mr. Rio-led Naga-land Government invited multilateral agencies and trustees like Ratan Tata Trust to the Naga Hills. Nagaland is the first State that was registered on the map of upcoming SEZs in India from the North Eastern region. Right now, Mr. Rio’s Government appro-ved two SEZs. First one is to be developed by M/S H.N. Company in Dimapur. Second proposed SEZ is related with Specific Agro Food Processing Special Economic Zone and to convert the existing Export Promotion Industrial Park (EPIP) at Ganeshnagar, which is to be promoted by Nagaland Industrial Development Cooperation Limited (NIDC). Mr. Pillai, Commerce Secretary said: “The multi-product zone proposed in Nagaland will come up over 400 hectares and land is in possession of the developer” (Expressindia.com, July 12, 2007). Coincidentally all these developments took place during the present interim period of Naga peace process, which in turn creates doubts over the veracity of the ceasefire reached between New Delhi and NSCN-IM.
If the trends continue to materialise, the region of Naga Hills is going to experience economic growth based development. It is a direct fallout of global-isation as globalisation demands the integration of markets. In this process the subsistence economies of livelihoods would be destroyed in the name of growth induced development. As a result Naga community will be alienated from their cultures, economies, polity due to displacement. This kind of trend will only result in conflicts and tension.
With regards to the Naga Hills, a new economic incentive is rather observed as “unhealthy” trend. The basic deliberation here is Naga Hills are really on the way of “economic-shining,” that would be based on market economy. On the other hand, market has potential tools that will create social classes based on economic assets (so-called middle class/upper class). In fact such trend could detour support base of the any socio-political movement in the region. Nevertheless, economic policies driven by the neo-liberal economic process would undermine or rather dilute the Naga political process. Or, can economic investment “rescue” Naga political imbroglio. This invite serious thought.
Not only SEZs, but Nagaland indicated positive nod to the ONGC and Canoro Resources Ltd., to extract crude oil from Champang, under Wokha district. According to the report (“Champang Oil: US$ 115 million for Nagaland Govt,” The Morung Express, 31 August 2007), the Canoro president is in touch with the NSCN-IM. Canora further said that the Naga underground outfit has expressed support if the company’s oil ambitions are consonant with the ‘wishes of the people.’ Also the company would consider the history of the Naga people; it is imperative that the people’s sentiments as well as of the Government, be kept in focus. The report mentioned that the stakeholders include Nagaland Government, local public, Naga outfits and ONGC.
Sometimes reflections cause “uneasiness.” Calcutta based national daily The Telegraph (April 12, 2007) under the caption of “Armoured for Big Business- Defence equipment firm chooses Nagaland over Malaysia,” writes: “By the end of this year, Nagaland might well be exporting ballistic body armour and load-bearing equipment to Baghdad and Washington.” The report claimed that the Armour would acquire about 50 acres land near Dimapur to prepare armoured vehicles and bullet-proof vests. Mr. Rio’s Government is obviously ecstatic as the project promises initial employment for at least 100 people, not to speak of the potential for growth of ancillary units. No doubt, the products manufactured here have been earmark for use by the US Allied Forces in Iraq. Indeed, to produce mass destructive equipments in Naga Hills is a shameful thing. Nevertheless, it is total insult to those Nagas who protagonist against war.
Certainly, such emerging of economic incentive (policies) in Naga Hills is astounding. Either SEZ or extraction of oil are in contrast with the special status warranted to the State of Nagaland under the Indian Constitution where “no Act of Parliament in respect of religious, social practices, customary law and procedure, ownership and transfer of land and its resources…” The Morung Express (31 august 2007) reported: “...a Group of Ministers set up to finalize a relief and rehabilitation policy today decided in Delhi to give State Govts a discretion to acquire 30 per cent of the land required for an industrial project or special economic zones provided the developer has acquired the balance. State Governments can now acquire 30 per cent of the land on behalf of the project developer if the company has already taken 70 per cent of the land in possession.”
In such juncture, one can reflect Tibet scenario. The recent N.Ram’s article “Future Tibet” (Frontline, July 27, 2007) concludes as: “…the future of the Tibet Autonomous Region and the extensive Tibetan autonomous areas that form part of four major provinces will be- in their differentiated and distinctive ways- with one China.” China’s policy in Tibet claims that Chinese Government developed the region within a short span of time. The whole article proclaimed a good work done for the Tibet by the Chinese.
Indeed, this is how the Chinese intrinsically manoeuvre to divert the Tibetan’s political aspirations. New Delhi seems to be emulating the Chinese model not only in the case of SEZs, but also in dealing political aspirations of the struggles for self-determination. Moreover, such market-based inducement will in the long run undermine the Naga political movement.
Source: The Sangai Express Online
wow...very interesting site, thank you!!
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