People Above Posco:

March 04 2013 :: Tragedy keeps revisiting the people of Dhinkia after their destiny was handed over to South Korean steel company Posco some years ago. After the golden spot was chosen and the deal signed, the peaceful and uneventful lives of the residents went for a spin. The sweet life they had spun around the vines of the betel leaves which gave them not only red lips but enough money to educate their children and have a good life themselves suddenly, for no fault of theirs, collapsed around them.

It is said development is intended to offer a better life to the biggest mass possible. In India, the stories of Singur and Nandigram created a picture of oppression by might that was perpetuated with the help of the then state government of West Bengal which was headed by the Marxist Communist Party. The Commies were perceived as pro people yet their revengeful attitude against the villagers where Tata wanted to set up its car factory proved to be their undoing. A page from this history could teach a thing or two to the Orissa administration. It is in this light that one has to see the recent blast in a Posco affected village of Jagatsinghpur district last week which killed three villagers. It is a known fact that the villagers of this area have been virtually living in total segregation because the police and Posco’s hired goons have kept them surrounded for a very long time. This denies credibility to the police propagated story that the dead  villagers were themselves preparing bombs and an accidental explosion killed them. Being virtual prisoners, it is not believable that the villagers could have smuggled explosive material into their village. Scrutinizing the history of this anti corporate movement also shows that the villagers have never before exhibited access to weapons and explosives in the past. In this backdrop, the police story seems untenable.

Every time the State Government backed by police reinforcements went acquiring land in patches for the company’s project, the villagers replied with stiff resistance. This is a pointer to how much those who own land in Dhinkia and surrounding areas detest the very thought of parting with their land on which their families have worked and lived for generations. Despite stiff resistance from people who even formed human chains and blocked entry points by resorting to peaceful protests, these were marred by police violence including lathi charge and even firing.

To say that for people in Dhinkia and its neighbourhood Posco is most unwelcome will be a gross under-statement. For nearly seven years, they have consistently shown their resentment by means of agitation and yet the Government, overruling the prevailing sentiment, is bent upon acquiring land by all means. This is curious.

In circumstances such as the one prevailing in Dhinkia, a company, however big or mighty it might be, would not like to pitch tent in a charged atmosphere undermined by people’s ire and agitation. The Tatas, whose car manufacturing facility was fast coming up at Nandigram in West Bengal had to finally bow down to the wishes of the people and relocate the plant to Gujarat.

In the teeth of stiff opposition, it would have been prudent for the State Government to identify and offer some alternate ‘safe’ site which does not involve issues such as displacement and rehabilitation. Industry is certainly needed for overall development of the State economy. But by offering fertile land at throwaway prices to industry and that too by evicting people forcefully, a great injustice is being inflicted on the citizens. Industry should be given land on which not even a blade of grass grows, so that the Government does not have to face contentious issues. Villagers spearheading the agitation against Posco maintain that some 40 km or so from the proposed site, vast stretches of infertile and uncultivable land are available that can be parceled to the steel producer without a whimper of protest.

After such a long period, since Posco came on the scene, the project is still in an embryonic stage. Nothing will really be lost, therefore, if the company decides to move away from the present site. And, by moving to a new site just 40 km away will never rob the company of any of its perceived locational advantages. In fact, by doing so, the company can really generate a lot of goodwill of the people which Posco needs in large dollops. Since the project is yet to take off, it is not too late for the State Government to make Posco see reason and move on. If this happens, people will readily recognise that the Government has put them above Posco which is as it should be. Dhinkia will once again be dotted with betel vineyards alongside agriculture and not lathis, bombs, guns and goons.

Let us not deal with the anti Posco movement as a stand-alone situation. The cover burst when the world was informed about the ‘Occupy Wall Street’ movement that rocked the United States. Taking a cue from this, Barrack Obama took a very clear anti large corporate stand in his election that won him the candy of the second time Presidency. The President of France, Francois Hollande has unequivocally stated “I hate the rich”. After saying this, he has led his country to a new Tax the Rich regime that may have scared some of the rich French to leave the country but the President has not only made his stand clear in favour of the common citizen but also filled the coffers to the brim. The recently dethroned Prime Minister of Italy Mario Monti, in his quest to fight the mafia and corruption in his country, went so deep against the corporates that unwittingly it helped unearth the Augusta Westland helicopter purchase scam and resultant bribes paid off  to Indians. All these are clear indications of a changing world order. Today, the diktats of the business tycoon is no more commanding the administrator.

Politicians across the world have realized that a conscious populace desires a change that redefines progress and development. To retain power, all of them are willing to play to the new tunes being sung by the voters. This may not be the scenario in countries where democracy has not taken roots. In most democratic nations, the change is palpable. India is no different. The youth of this country and especially in a state like Orissa realizes that promises of jobs and consequent prosperity are all a chimera. Districts like Jharsuguda, Angul, Dhenkanal or Jagatsingpur are witnessing increasing ire of the local populace. Let no one assume these are isolated or sporadic reactions. The deep-seated distrust and dislike towards the business and industrial establishments setting up shop in Orissa has to be  seen to be believed. This is the time for the administrators to put their ears to the ground and understand the harsh reality.