People's Democracy

Vigorously Implement Land Reforms

In Entire Country: Buddhadeb

Following is the text of the address made by Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee, chief minister of West Bengal at the foundation day ceremony of M S Swaminathan Research Foundation on August 7, 2005 in Chennai

I AM happy to be here at the foundation day ceremony of M S Swaminathan Research Foundation (MSSRF). For the last fifteen years the Foundation, under the dynamic leadership of Dr Swaminathan, has been rendering a very effective service to advance the cause of sustainable development.

At the outset, I would like to refer to some of the vital problems plaguing the country’s rural scene.  It may be recalled that the annual rate of growth of rural employment was 0.58  per cent between 1993-94 and 1999-2000 and the growth rate of rural population was 1.5 per cent.  The country experienced a fall in the rate of growth in agriculture in the last decade. In the 8th plan period the rural development expenditure was 14 per cent of GDP, but subsequently it declined to around 5 per cent.

The withdrawal of subsidies on a number of inputs, the rise in costs of seeds, irrigation and electricity, and the marked fall in bank lending have compelled peasants to borrow money at high interest rates from moneylenders.  In several parts of the country, the virtual withdrawals of certain basic facilities by the governments have forced a large number of peasants to fall under the grip of unscrupulous moneylenders.

For nearly three decades we have been emphasising the need for vigorous implementation of land reform programmes all over the country. But, steps have been taken by some states to dilute land reform laws either by raising the ceiling on land or by handing over surplus land to private parties. It may be pointed out that any step like the handing over of acquired agricultural land to corporate bodies including multinational companies for such a purpose as the cultivation of commercial crops is detrimental to the interest of cultivators. The loss of land by poor peasants is a matter of serious concern. We all know that in the recent past, many peasants in some parts of the country committed suicide because of their appalling conditions.  Their plight worsened as they were not getting remunerative prices for the commercial crops that they produced.

Some of the prescriptions of the WTO relating to land use, cropping pattern and the future of self-sufficiency in food have serious implications.  The new trade and patent regime curbs the rights of peasants and threatens to take the country ‘from biodiversity to genetic slavery’.  The neglect of water management, the policy of privatising water resources and the unresolved inter-state water disputes have aggravated the related problems. The ‘targeted’ public distribution system is virtually crumbling. What I feel is that emphasis should be placed on strengthening the PDS to meet the requirements of the common people, particularly of those below the poverty line so that they may have easy access to food.  Most regrettably, per capita food-grain availability in the country came down from 180 kilograms in 1980s to an average of 155 kilograms in the three years between 2000-01 and 2002-03.

The rural scene in West Bengal is different from that in most other parts of the country.  Since 1977 the Left Front government has been making sustained efforts to bring about a qualitative change in the rural economy.  We have distributed 72 per cent of the total vested agricultural land to the landless and the land-poor peasants. Irrigation facilities have been enhanced. Seeds and other inputs of cultivation are being provided to peasants. The total food-grain production, mainly rice, in the state has been steadily increasing.  Last year, the production was 160 lakh tonnes.  But I would like to make it clear that we are not complacent about our performance. We have identified 4612 villages where the poorest of the poor live. We have adopted a coordinated plan of action for intensive development of these villages.

In one of our meetings in the recent past, Dr Swaminathan has expressed his desire to set up a Rice Park for rice research and allied activities in West Bengal.  The government of West Bengal will extend full cooperation to him in implementing his proposed project. We solicit Dr Swaminathan’s advice on the issue of enhancing the quantity, quality and the nutritive value of rice.  We also need his guidance to evolve a correct technology for augmenting the production of edible oil from rice bran.

I welcome the decision of the government of India to launch the National Horticulture Mission mooted by Dr Swaminathan.  Research on horticulture should be an important focus under the Mission.  Now, West Bengal is the largest producer of vegetables in the country. Last year, the state’s production of vegetables was 112 lakh tonnes.  A cold chain is necessary for sustaining adequate return from horticulture products in the state. There are six climatic zones providing opportunities for growing diverse horticulture crops round the year.  What we need is a post-harvest marketing mechanism for proper utilisation of horticulture and floriculture products.  Our government needs Dr Swaminathan’s advice on the issue of the extent of exporting these products after meeting our own requirements.  Dr Swaminathan’s valuable suggestions will also benefit us in the matter of allowing FDI participation in the retail market of our agricultural products.

West Bengal continues to maintain the top position in the inland fisheries sector.  The creditable performance of the marine sector deserves special mention.  Stress is being put on augmenting the export of marine products and ornamental fish.  It may be recalled that Dr Swaminathan, while speaking at the National Launch Programme of ‘Fish for All’ in Kolkata in December, 2003, made some valuable suggestions on the need for formulating a strategy to improve the supply of fish to consumers.  We have already initiated some measures in this regard.  His further advice will give a fresh boost to our task.

I would like to mention that in West Bengal, a satellite based Training and Development Communication Channel network will be set up by the Panchayats and Rural Development Department and Roopkala Kendra, a film and social communication institution specialising in the production of educational films and films on rural development.  This network, under the technical supervision of DECU, ISRO, will facilitate direct capacity building of panchayat functionaries, government officials, village level organisations and communities in areas such as agriculture, rural development, public health and education on distance education mode uniformly at a time in an interactive format. This system will also facilitate the rapid dissemination of knowledge, policy guidelines and messages.  Initially, the network will cover 300 receiving centres.  In this area of our activity, suggestions from MSSRF will be of great help to us.

We are taking special care in the development of the Sunderban region, which is now recognised as a world heritage site by the UNESCO.  The Sunderbans, the largest delta in the world, are famous for mangrove forests and wild animals, particularly, Royal Bengal Tigers.  I am happy to mention that the Twelfth Finance Commission has indicated an allocation of Rs 100 crore for the development of the Sunderban region.  In response to our request, the Planning Commission of India has constituted a working group to recommend an action plan for the conservation of biodiversity and natural heritage of the Sunderban region.  Efforts have to be stepped up to improve the economic condition of the weaker sections living in this region. The coastal management and the improvement of the economic security of coastal communities are also our major concerns.  We need to be advised by MSSRF for the successful implementation of our related programmes.  The working group of the Planning Commission will evaluate the desirability of Eco-tourism in the Sunderban region.

Our government always gets cooperation and guidance from Dr Swaminathan.  We are grateful to him.  I take this opportunity to request him to set up a branch of MSSRF in West Bengal.

I wish MSSRF all success in its future endeavours.