A two-day national conference ‘Development, Dispossession and Resistance’ was organised by Department of Humanities and Social Science of the National Institute of Technology (NIT) here on Monday.
Joining the conference, former adviser of Planning Commission Prof GB Saxena came down heavily on the Government’s approach on industrial development and particularly for ignoring the interest of displaced persons, mainly the tribals.
He alleged that the Governments are surrendering before the industrialists and ignoring the interest of the affected persons.
“A development model, ignoring the interest of innocent public of the country, can usher in development in the country,” Saxena said. “I would say that several industrial units are established, not for the sake of development of the country, rather for the development of the industrialists. It is surprising that the State Governments, which should have been more sympathetic to its own people, have been extending their whole hearted support to the industrialists,” he lamented.
He maintained that about 60 per cent of the displaced have been languishing in poverty. Saxena also strongly decried the introduction of Special Economic Zones in the country.
Sundargarh Collector Bhupinder Singh Punia mentioned that development has been essential in the country. “We need to be careful while evicting the locals and ensure that they do not face inconvenience and exploited,” Punia said.
Ganesh Jirkuntwar, Executive Director, OCl India ltd stressed on the need for understanding the displaced persons and taking them in to confidences in all important matters, before evicting them.
The inaugural session was followed by two technical sessions.
As many as 40 professors from different universities of the country and 25 resource persons participated. Prof B Majhi, Director In-charge of NIT, Rourkela chaired the inaugural session. Seminar chairman Nihar Ranjan Mishra and cochairman S Ray coordinated.