Paalamoor NRIs visit Polepally SEZ and affected farmers

A group of Paalamoor NRIs led by Vijay Chavva and Renuka Velidanda have visited Polepally SEZ affected farmers.

They met several affected families and patiently heard to victims. They were accompanied by Sujatha Surepally and Madhu kagula conveners of Polepally SEZ ikya karyacharana samithi.

The farmers who have gathered in large numbers have thanked NRI groups for standing with them through the struggle. Some of the 13 contestants in the recent by-elections whom NRIs have helped paying the deposit have also met and thanked for the help. The Farmers explained the hardship they are facing in life, after their single source of lively hood (which is land) acquired by AP govt.  Farmers claimed that they are struggling for a day meal as units in SEZ even declined to employ them. NRIs were moved with the status of their living.

While talking to Media Vijay Chavva said NRIs are not against the SEZs but against the way they are being misused by governments to benefits their friends and families at the cost of the lives of the poor farmers. He said from the first SEZ in Kandla in 1965 until Kakinda, land acquisition has become the subject of concern always, but governments and opposition parties have failed to understand the issue. While government shows over enthusiasm to benefit their kith and kin, Opposition parties are trying to promote their image through protests and later ignore the farmers. NRIs said Farmers should be made part of the growth but not victims of the growth. This will result in social unrest.

Vijay Chavva stressed that farmers should always be made partners in the growth and continuous ignorance of this basic principle is causing revolts resulting in protests. As long as government keeps ignoring the fact, issues will continue to pop up like this.

The farmers in the Polepally are literally struggling for the food and some of they were seen begging for small money while SEZ owners pass through them in Mercedes cars. This is highly objectionable and cannot be forgiven NRIs said. Mere 19000 Rs per acre compensation against the market value of 50 lacks is highly objectionable they said. The farmers also complained that local officials with the help of local political leaders grouped with local MLA have descended on them recently and paid some more mere thousands of amounts and took forcible signatures saying that agitation is being withdrawn. NRIs have advised SEZ activists Madhu and Sujatha to approach court and NHRC for justification and promised to help financially.

NRIs requested govt should take cue from Shanghai district of the China where Shenzhen and Pudong SEZs have really helped as growth engines for economy growth and locals have become part of the country’s growth but in India SEZs have been either used to promote self interests or served for Kith and Kin’s interest NRIs claimed. They also said NRIs fully conscious of economic growth triggered by SEZs in India since SEZs have contributed 34000 Crores to the Indian economy in 2007 and expected to contribute more than 66000 Crores in current year registering 92 pc growths. But the concern remains with the way SEZs are implemented and land acquisitioned.