There are those who oppose industrialisation per se, holding aloft the ideal of a pastoral existence for the very, very poor people, often tribals, who would have to be re-settled from their land. This view neither deserves — nor, fortunately, gets — much sympathy, for that pastoral ideal is a sham which ignores the desperate poverty and exploitation of those people. The more substantive opposition comes from those activists who insist on a fair deal for the oustees. And rightly so. There is a real risk of poor people being dispossessed of their land for a pittance and, without the necessary education and skills, sinking even deeper into despair. Indeed, one of the reasons for cynicism is the poor track record of past land acquisitions.

In Orissa, for instance, the people of Sundergarh district displaced in the fifties to make way for the Rourkela Steel Plant were treated extremely shoddily. Large numbers of their descendants are still attempting to secure their compensation. Ironically, although that and other re-settlements were botched by the Central government of that era, today the state is battling the stigma associated with rehabilitation and resettlement (R&R) efforts. But the reality today is that Orissa’s R&R policy — rejigged and improved after the Kalinganagar tragedy where 12 tribals were killed by police firing after a constable was hacked to death during a demonstration — is arguably the best in the country. To any rational sceptic, I would only urge that they take the time to read it before passing judgment. Do check out www.orissagov.nic.in.

... contd.