The Hindu : Special economic zone, free port proposals draw fire

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Apr 15, 2003

Southern States

Southern States - Pondicherry

Special economic zone, free port proposals draw fire

By Our Staff Reporter

Pondicherry April 14. The Communist party of India (Marxist Leninist) has criticised the proposal of the Pondicherry Administration to set up a special economic zone and a free port here.

Copies of resolutions passed at a two-day State level conference of the Pondicherry unit were distributed to mediapersons today by the State secretary of the party, S. Balasubramanian, who presided over the conference.

The conference also wanted the left and democratic parties including the CPI, the CPI (M), the DPI and the TMMK to provide an alternative to combat the "communal fascism" of the BJP and the anti-people policies of the Congress and to expose the betrayal of the Dravidian parties in ameliorating the sufferings of the poor.

A strong attack was made on the proposed special economic zone and free port programmes agreed to in principle by the Centre for Pondicherry. The conference felt that these arrangements would only be a clear attempt to exploit workers who would have no legal protection. Industrialists alone would be pampered with a number of concessions.

There should be a legislation in the Union Territory to protect the interests of workers in the unorganised sector. A comprehensive legislation for the benefit of farm workers should be introduced. An allowance of Rs 1000 a month should be paid to youth during period of unemployment.

Industrialists violating the norms and legal provisions to ensure safety to workers engaged in industries should be brought to book.

As a matter of protest against the Anglo-American war on Iraq, the CPI (ML) volunteers here would stage an agitation to make a bonfire of `Anglo-American goods' on April 22.

S.Balasubramanian was re-elected secretary of the State committee for which a team of 11members was also elected.

The conference was inaugurated by the secretary of the Tamil Nadu State unit, Balasundaram, and those who addressed the meet included P. Shankar, Central Committee member, N. Kalainathan, State secretary of the CPI, Vanangamudi, organising secretary of the Dalit Panthers of India.

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