I am in receipt of few mails in connection with Singur and Tata's Lakhtakia Nano.

I address them together here in general.   All is not over. The real stage will start on and after 15^th of September, when the four member committee decisions are submitted and government will have to take corrective steps. I am afraid, the will power with the government of West Bengal is not there to deal with tatas the way they have dealt with the farmers of Singur. We should not be surprised if we see the next stage of agitation any day after 15^th deadline.

Certain points have been raised with respect to my statement in the matter of Singur and Tata's Nano factory; Hope this mail clears the doubts of confusion. My experience by spending few days at Singur in the last week and also before, leads me to believe that the farmers of Singur have been forced to make sacrifices to pave way for the greedy industrial houses who laid their eagle eyes on their farm land. In the light of all the hue and cry made in the name of positioning of ancillary units, we need answers to the following.

1. Is it not true that Tata group chairman Ratan Tata announces small car project at Singur on

the day when Buddhadeb Bhattacharya was sworn in the Chief Minster of W. Bengal? Is it a mere coincidence? The news published in Economic Times of May 18, 2008 will throw more light on the same. Why government is so much liberal to a fifth generation private industrial house?

2. Gujarat Auto makers are going to supply auto parts to Nano. This has been published in some magazines about a year back that stated that engine and other parts for Nano are to be manufactured in Gujarat.  "Delay in project worries auto parts makers in Gujarat" and also Gujarat auto parts makers see reliable partner in Tata;

Economic Times, India - 3 Sep 2008.

Profit, loss and price pressure apart we are always with TATA and can cater to any of its facility either in Singur, Pantnagar, or even if they choose Pune ...BOM:505712

3.   I also share with you all what Mr. Ratan Tata has stated in a large full page interview that was published on 07-02-2007 in the Main daily news paper of Italy IL CORRIERE DELLA SERA.

Interviewed by Danilo Taino, who previously published a couple of enthusiastic articles about what he calls "capitalismo d'assalto" ("energetic capitalism") featuring 'new Shining India'.

And here is the crucial question:

Danilo Taino :            "What about the production facilities?"

Ratan Tata :              "We will produce it for the 50% in a new plant in West Bengal (where there are some political problems that Tata minimizes - the interviewer is accurate enough… to add).

For the remaining 50% we will encourage the creation of a number of small assembly shops, low cost, all over India. This will be our contribution to the entrepreneurship among the youth of India."

When half of the cars are to be assembled at many locations in India, the very logic of Ratan Tata to have land for ancillary units close to the plant in the same premises sounds hollow. He is not ready to go to the other side of the road opposite to their plant for ancillary units but is silent on the assembly lines that will be set up all over the country.

Secondly, when the auto parts makers from Gujarat are already lined up, the hue and cry of setting up of ancillary within the premises blasts off and that the need of the land of 1000 acres also comes in for close scrutiny that needs to be reexamined by experts and definitely not by Mr. Nirumpam Sen and party (proper word should be GANG in the prevailing circumstances) who have proved at Singur that they are the bunch of most inefficient persons.

4.  All noises are made in the name of creating employment for the youth of West Bengal. Fine. Where is the exact figure of employment that will be created at Singur plant? Government of West Bengal must issue a public statement as to how many of the local youth will be given permanent employment in the Singur plant as well paid staff and not as a poorly paid daily wage earner under a contractor, as is the habit of the house of Tatas and other industrial houses.  As per a report, the final figure which we believe is less than 500 persons.

6. Why market rates of the land is not paid to farmers? The payments made to the farmers is about Rs. 10 to Rs. 11 Lakh per acre against the market price of over Rs. 65 lakh per acre now and all set to touch 80 lakh and above in near future. Mind it, it is not only because of Nano Car factory but because it is located on the main express way just on the outskirts of Kolkatta where any one can reach within shortest possible time. Large areas of land have been purchased by real estate / property dealers at market prices where huge housing complexes are proposed.  

7. Where is the home work of the District Collector?  District Collector has to declare that he/she had no choice and no other option than to acquire the particular pieces of land while acquiring land under colonial century old land acquisition Act. I charge that without doing any homework as is mandatory under the provisions of law, the land has been acquired, dancing to the tunes of a private industrialist who has managed to win the trust of the state government even at knowing fully well that the actions are going to do irreparable losses to the farmers of Singur. 

Unfortunately some ignorant persons who are in the habit of talking Tom, Dick and Harry to accuse others with both eyes closed fails to understand the real issues concerned. Those who doubt the capability of farmers of Singur are living in day dreams. By raising fingers at their poverty and capability, those persons have insulted the farmers of Singur who are struggling to repossess their farm land that is under the clutches of the largest investor of the country.

Those farmers may be poor, illiterate but are capable enough to take their own decisions, and knows much better what is good and what is bad for them. Farmers of Kalinga Nagar, Nandigram and also at Singur have shown to the world, what they can do once they are firm on determination and get united.

Those who see Tatas Nano car project as the magic wand to solve the employment problem are living in a fool's paradise. Singur plant will generate employment to maximum 500 persons. How many will loose their livelihood may be studied by going to Singur.

Pravin Patel

Human Rights Activist

Director, Tribal Welfare Society

PUBLIC EYE SWISS AWARD 2008 – NOMINEE