Chautala demands scraping SEZ

Jaipur, Aug 14 (UNI) Former Haryana Chief Minister Om Prakash Chautala today called for scraping the Special Economic Zones(SEZ) and setting up Manufacturing Investment Regions in their place.

Speaking at a seminar on the Special Economic Zones organised by the Bharatiya Jan Shakti Party here, he said the condition of the farmers and soldiers have been the worst in the country which is being reflected in the highest number of suicide rate among them.

SEZ has come as a major blow to the farmers with their only asset -- land -- being deprived from them, he added.

''Instead of paying a paltry sum to the farmers in the form of compensation for their fertile land acquired, they should be made permanent partners in the business so that they could also get a share of the profit,'' he advocated.

He said the present SEZ scheme denies a level playing field with a slew of tax and other benefits to the industries in the SEZ which is being pitted against the industries outside. He said this will lead to the closure of the industries outside the Zones resulting in unemployment and economic chaos.

Speaking on the occasion, KN Govindacharya came down heavily on the policy of "blind globalisation." He said, very often the Chinese example of SEZ is being highlighted as best model. The Chinese set up five SEZ in the 80's for the production of export items only and which were set up on costal areas not suitable for agriculture, while in India the companies are not bound by any export obligation and were set up on fertile land.

He also criticised the double standard adopted by the political parties. He said the congress critises the acquisition of land for SEZs in West Bengal, while the Congress government in Haryana are doing the same.

UNI