[Assam] Sovereignty--cropper again?

[Dilip and Dil Deka]

Does this article in the Tehelka fit into the discussion here?
I think this is a move in the right direction. The locals who have lived in an area for generations should get some benefit out of modernization (industrialization?)  and eventual disruption to their life style.
Industrialization has to take place for the common good of the people sharing the name of one nation. Some gave before, some will give now, some got before and others will get now.
However fairness must prevail and this article shows a move in that direction.
BUSINESS & ECONOMY    
Mine Or Everybody's?
A NEW BILL SEEKS TO INCLUDE LOCALS AS MINING PARTNERS, SAYS KUNAL MAJUMDER
 
People’s property The new approach is to institutionalise sharing of profits 
Photo: SHAILENDRA PANDEY  
RAMANNA, THE CPI(Maoist) leader, has cited 96 of the 102 MOUs signed between the Chhattisgarh government and the mining companies as one of the leading provocations for the Dantewada massacre. “These multinationals continue to loot the natural wealth, leading to mass displacements,” he said. But now, he should be happy. The Ministry of Mines is working overtime to ensure that mining gets a human face. A new Mines and Minerals Bill, vigorously opposed by the mining lobby, will, if enacted, make it mandatory for 26 percent of the profits to be shared with the locals. Under it, licences can only be given to companies that make a full disclosure of their mine closure plans (filling up old mines) and Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) activities.
This is a big move. A top ministry official said similar legislations in South Africa and Peru had gone a long way to give the affected local communities a say in the matter. “This is a collective decision of the government — the first time that we are making it legally binding on mining firms to make sure the tribals are not alienated from their own land. All mining will have to be done on behalf of the tribal people.” They, and other local groupings, will receive a part of the profits generated via a tribal development board. Mining ministry mandarins hope, these measures will help silence critics of the country’s current development strategies, which have been enriching multinationals and pauperising the landowners.
RIGHTFUL MINING
ALLOT 26 PERCENT OF PROFIT TO THE LOCALS
MAKE LOCALS SHAREHOLDERS IN THE MINING COMPANY
SUBMIT MINE-CLOSURE REPORT BEFORE ACTIVITY BEGINS
DISCLOSE CSR ACTIVITIES WITH THE MINING PLAN
REWARD WHISTLE-BLOWERS ON ILLEGAL MINING 
Expectedly, top among the opponents of this policy is the mining industry which fears it will eat into their profits. “The idea of allotting 26 percent of the profit to the local people looks good. But how will this system work?” asks Neelav Samrat De, Deputy Director, Confederation of Indian Industry (CII). “Our fear is that the companies will be put to unbearable pressures by the local people who will never be satisfied”, he adds.
Sensitive it certainly is. Tens of thousands of impoverished people have been displaced, in most cases without being compensated for their ‘stolen’ lands. But if the new legislation has teeth, and does not end up as just another piece of worthless government stationery, the companies will be duty-bound to furnish a credible CSR blueprint when applying for mining licenses. “The realisation is finally dawning on the government that this is not charity but responsibility. The multinationals will be welcome only if they are convinced that their activities will benefit them, not hurt them,” says R Sreedhar, convenor, Mines, Mineral and People.
However, the Bill is not just about social justice. It examines a host of other industry concerns, such as notification of the mineral-rich areas and protection of existing mines. The ministry says that though it has been careful to take into account the interests of the mining firms, they continue to complain that costs would shoot up to unmanageable levels. “But our point is that if the cost is low today it’s only because it is being paid for by the environment and the people left poorer. We are working on a recurring income plan for families whose land has been taken over by mining.”
Will it actually happen? If it does, then illegal mining across the country will actually be a thing of the past. •

 



________________________________
From: UTTAM BORTHAKUR <uttamborthakur at yahoo.co.in>
To: assam <assam at assamnet.org>
Sent: Wed, May 5, 2010 9:30:17 PM
Subject: Re: [Assam] Sovereignty--cropper again?

*kamal deka* kjit.deka at gmail.com
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*Thu May 6 07:19:18 IST 2010*


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------------------------------
>>>>>>> You are right.Here is what Chidambaram said today." Defending
freedom of speech, the home minister said, "Even extreme ideology can be
propagated in India. Speech and propagation is free in a democracy. But when
they (Naxals) take up arms against the state or other sections of the
people, the conflict arises."


***** Everything is tolerable under the Indian Constitution; the Naxals are
allowed to raise tempest in tea-pots or in any forum, blog, mailing list
etc. What is not tolerable is that MAO-ist (Naxals and their tribal army,
uprooted by loot of the forests, leasing of mineral rich areas to MNCs)
should take up arms against MOU-ists (basically MNCs like Mittal Arcel,
Vedantika and their Indian lackeys like the Bellary groups). That is what
non-violence is all about; offering your other cheek. The Maoists should
also know that even the verbal and electronic expressions are not allowed in
China. But, Chidambaram is a wise man.
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