UPA should abandon SEZs to protect farmers, farm labourers

The CPI(ML) in Puducherry has demanded the UPA government at the Centre to permanently scrap the Special Economic Zone (SEZ) scheme, the Marine Fisheries (Regulation and Management) Bill and refrain from enacting the Goondas Act.

The CPI(ML) Puducherry unit has demanded that the UPA government at the Centre permanently scrap the Special Economic Zone (SEZ) scheme since the formation of such zones has been displacing farmers and farm labourers.

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S Balasubramanian, party unit secretary said in a press release in Puducherry that the SEZ scheme has been causing abject poverty among farmers and farm labourers, as they were losing their lands to multinational companies.

The rich mineral resources of states were being used up by huge industrial concerns, displacing farmers and farm workers.

He said the Centre should also scrap the Marine Fisheries (Regulation and Management) Bill as it poses a threat to the livelihood of the fishing community.

CPI(ML) also wanted the government to refrain from enacting the Goondas Act, ensure housing facilities in rural and urban areas and steps to control prices of essential commodities.