December 02, 2008

Jharkhand Forum urges state to put MoUs on hold

The Telegraph reported that a forum of social activists, small scale entrepreneurs, economists and independent writers today demanded that all MoUs signed by Jharkhand government be put on hold till all existing sick and closed industrial units in Jharkhand were fully revamped.

The group, calling itself Jharkhand Alternative Development Forum, stressed that it would soon come out with a people’s development plan to meet the hopes and aspirations of the people of the state. The resolution said a committee comprising social activists and to be headed by Mr Ram Dayal Munda former VC of Ranchi University would draw up a people’s plan in consultation with local residents that would ensure the active participation of the beneficiaries in the developmental process.

The forum further demanded that no new industry should be allowed to be set up anywhere in the state till all those previously displaced by giant industrial and irrigation projects were fully rehabilitated. It stressed that the state rehabilitation policy being framed should contain provisions of granting shares to the displaced population in the industries set up on their land.

Mr PP Verma convener said that the existing state model has failed miserably. He added that "We will draw up suitable models in consultation with the people concerned. Once we are ready, we would implement these models on a pilot basis."

Prominent economist, Mr Aseem Shrivastava expressed concern on the collapse of the rural economy. Social activist Mr Sanjoy Bosumullik alleged that the current state policy is not only anti people but is also against nature.

Jharkhand government has signed more than 50 MoUs with national and international players mostly in the iron and steel and power sectors.