In the modern world, industrialisation is the prime mover of any region’s economy. Worldwide, industrialisation has paved the way towards economic development. Reports on Odisha’s economic status observe that the State remains industrially backward and the sign of improvement is not encouraging. Traditional agricultural societies cannot generate progress in standard of living of a majority of people of the State, which needs rapid industrialisation to achieve growth. Just availability of natural resources as industrial raw materials is not enough if it is not accompanied with basic infrastructure for communication and transportation added to availability of skilled manpower. Despite natural advantages, the State has not achieved some basic infrastructures such as standard international airports, sea ports, railway lines, highways, waterways and other links which are foundations for industrialisation. In an increasingly globalised economy there has been a growing movement of skilled manpower; and for that purpose, the State must build world-class education and skill development centres to meet the growing need of workers for the industrial sector. The State has to invest in both the sectors to supplement industrialisation.
Added to this, the sociopolitical condition of the region must be supportive of industrialisation and the local issues that arise must be handled carefully by the government so that the misunderstanding and threat of local fear do not become a factor of de-industrialisation. The past experience relating to industrialisation in Odisha shows many projects are not grounded on time because of protests by locals and, most importantly, due to mishandling of rehabilitation and resettlement plans by government officials. Many so-called anti-industry people’s movements have pushed the State to industrial backwardness. The major reason for protests by locals is some basic issues relating to land ownership have not yet been solved by the Revenue Department in the absence of proper survey and settlement and clarity over land-based rehabilitation and resettlement plans. It is expected that before the launching of any plan, the government must come up with whitepapers for each project with clarity about the interest of locals. Unfortunately, the State Government has mishandled local people’s protests with brutal police operations, illegal arrests, false cases against protesting leaders, denial of proper compensation, undermining environmental concerns without going for a patient hearing of locals’ concerns especially relating to their life and livelihood in changing situation while they have been losing their age-old habitations.
For a long time since Independence, the issues of land ownership have not been purposefully solved by the subsequent governments in Odisha. It has also been observed that some upper class educated Odias have become anti-industry in their approach to development, hypocritically showing nostalgic fondness towards traditional agriculture and glorifying village society though they are mostly urbanite and no way connected to agriculture. They have been very well-encouraged by their sons and daughters with English medium education to settle in most industrialised countries abroad. It is unfortunate that while most democratic and civilised nations are using science and technology for economic development and enhancement of social life, we are very much part of it; but here at home, we still have some sections of people who are actively talking against rational ideas and reforms in public platforms while opposing social changes and progress. There are people imbibed with traditionalist ideas also opposing industrialisation, application of science in industrial production that leads to growth and development to change the quality of life of the masses. While majorities of people of Odisha have been suffering from backwardness and are dependent on traditional means of production as well as belief in practices of the traditional social system, industrialisation is the economic alternative and will pave the way for progressive socio-cultural changes. But many sociopolitical movements in the State sometimes selectively played an anti-industry role in the name of protecting the poor and marginalised which in reality has pushed the poorer sections to further backwardness.
The poorer, marginalised sections of the State are being motivated to continue with traditional agricultural and primary sector economy as the most sustainable way of living while industry and service sectors are globally emerging as alternative sources of livelihood for majorities of people. Unfortunately, intellectuals and opinion makers of the State very seldom advocate for industrialization; rather these days, rational ideas, application of science and technology and industrialisation have been opposed in the name of so-called traditions and preservation of traditional agricultural societies. While the whole world is marching forward by best use of science and technology, Odisha is celebrating its backwardness in TV screens by over-imposing discussions on violation of age-old religious traditions and not creatively engaging people to ponder over the State’s poor health infrastructure in tribal areas, quality of life with good health and education, solutions for persistent natural calamities, unemployment and distress migration of vulnerable youths; and, above all, about industrial backwardness. In the present context, there has been a debate over capital ownership as the most important part of industrialisation prerequisite of capital. It is evident that globally, almost all countries irrespective of political ideas have opened up their economy to major global players but with restrictions and protection of domestic industry. Till the recent past, over the last fifty years, the Central and State Governments in India were a major promoters of industrialisation, but the withdrawal from macroeconomic activities of industrialisation and especially disinvestment of the public sector are certainly not going to boost industrialisation of backward States such as Odisha. All the major industries in Odisha such as SAIL, NALCO and NTPC have started with Government investments. The governments must not depend on private corporates and rather make use of best possible sources available with them for industrialisation.
(manasbbsr15@gmail.com)