Gujarat is fast becoming the hub for Special Economic Zones (SEZ) in the country. Though only Kandla and Surat SEZs are fully operational right now, the State plans to set up 25 SEZs. Of these, approval has been granted to 20-odd proposals which is likely to bring in initial investment of over Rs 700 billion.
‘‘The State has a number of ports. SEZs can import and export products on a large scale. It’s ideal to set up a special zone for manufacturing as it will help Gujarat get greater investment from manufacturing sector in the country and outside as the State provides good infrastructure,’’ says G I Desai, Deputy Commissioner (Industry). SEZs will usher in a new era of industrial revolution in the State, he adds.
Prominent groups have received approval to set up SEZs in Gujarat, including Reliance Industries Ltd with an investment of Rs 400 billion, Essar with Rs 110 billion, Adani Rs 100 billion and Gujarat Hira Bourse with an investment of Rs 40 billion. The SEZs will come in places like Ahmedabad, Dahej, Kutch, Vadodara and Navsari.
Explaining why the State is a good choice to set up SEZs, Industry Commissioner Arvind Agarwal says, ‘‘Amending the Industrial Disputes Act with the Centre’s permission in February 2004, the State has made it more flexible for employers. The companies have the freedom to appoint and retrench labour, besides offering better wages. At the same time, the environment is financially advantageous for the labourer as well. It’s a win-win situation.’’
Several SEZs for petrochemicals, jewellery, pharmaceuticals, chemicals, engineering as well as automobiles will turn operational in the next three years. The first phase of ‘Pharmez,’ being set up by Zydus Cadilla over 12 hectares near Ahmedabad, is likely to be completed by mid-2007. It’s likely to attract Rs 1,000 crore in investments. ‘‘Exports from the SEZ are pegged at Rs 2,000 crore in the first phase. It will provide direct employment to 1,000 people and indirect employment to 5,000,’’ says Pankaj R Patel, Managing Director of Zydus Cadilla. Pharmez has been conceptualised and modelled on the lines of internationally reputed pharma parks and Free Trade Zones with facilities like a business centre, Wi-Max and broad band connectivity, planned layout with landscaped open spaces, restaurant and other recreational facilities like yoga and meditation centre. It will also contain offices of SEZ Commissioner, Customs & Excise Commissioner and FDA. A unique aspect of Pharmez will be a museum on the evolution of pharmaceutical science. ‘‘This will be the biggest and the longest museum in Asia spread over an area of 5,00,000 sq ft providing a complete perspective on drug-making process,’’ says Patel.
The SEZs are being set up by the government either wholly or with private sector participation. Generally, the government provides land to private companies that develop SEZs. Deputy Commissioner (Industry) G I Desai, however, refuses to reveal the combined export potential of upcoming SEZs or how it will benefit the State’s economy. ‘‘Combined exports of Kandla and Surat — the two SEZs that are operational at the moment — have shown substantial increase. But it’s too premature to say anything about the others as they are not fully functional,’’ he says.
So far, the Centre has cleared nearly 150 SEZs across the country.
Source: Expressindia.com
Another reason to remember 9/11: Satyagraha, not terror
September 11, 2006, 10:21 am
September 11 may be widely associated with the terror attacks in the US in 2001, but it holds a special connotation for India this year. For, September 11 marks the centenary of Gandhiji’s Satyagraha, a political movement based on non-violence and truth that began in South Africa in 1906 and culminated in ending British rule in India in 1947.
On September 11, 1906, exactly a century ago in South Africa, a public meeting led by Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi and other Gujaratis laid the foundation of Satyagraha, that would soon become not just a national politico-social movement but an inspiring ideology as well. A public meeting was called at Empire Theatre, owned by a Jew, in Johannesburg by three Gujaratis— M K Gandhi, Sheth Abdul Gani and Sheth Hazi Habib to oppose the proposed Asiatic Registration Act.
The proposed bill had provisions to restrict free movement of Indians and Asians within the four South African colonies. The two major provisions were — registration of all Asians in South Africa and every individual, including women and children, was required to give impressions of all fingers at the time of registration. Indians were opposed to the provisions because generally criminals were required to give finger prints. Secondly, Muslims particularly were against the idea that their women should give finger impressions.
In the meeting, zealous speeches were delivered in Gujarati, Urdu, Tamil and Telugu. Gandhi had explained the meaning of the legislation and its implications for Indian communities. Among the many resolutions passed, the gist was that Indian communities would oppose the draft legislation and if enacted, would not submit to it and accept whatever punishment that might come their way for disobedience.
Standing up to speak in support of the resolution, Sheth Hazi Habib declared that ‘in the name of God’ and ‘with God as his witness’ he would not submit to the Act till the end of his life. After Sheth’s speech, Mohandas again explained that it was not an ordinary decision to take the pledge in the name of God. He said two things: Anybody who takes the pledge lightly and breaks it would lose his humanity and would commit a crime unto God.
Secondly, he said: “Nobody should take a pledge because others were taking. If you are convinced then only you take it.” Finally, Gandhi declared that “even if he were to be the only one to keep the pledge, he would do so unto death”. Thus began a new movement which was described initially as “passive resistance,” a term Gandhi disliked. So he announced a competition in the “Indian Opinion” which he used to run, to find a suitable name for the movement.
His cousin Maganlal Gandhi, who was also in South Africa, had given a name “Sadagrah” which Gandhiji later changed to “Satyagraha.” And this is how Satyagraha had its roots in South Africa.
What happened to the Bill?
The British went ahead and passed the bill in the Parliament of Transvaal and other colonies in South Africa. To protest the bill, Gandhiji and others launched a agitation and courted arrest and imprisonment. Later on General Smuts called Gandhiji for negotiations and Gandhiji was taken to the negotiating table in his prison clothes. So upon reaching there Gandhiji declared: “A prisoner has no right to negotiate. Only a free man can negotiate.” General Smuts, on the spot, signed the release order of Gandhi and others and a compromise was reached that Indians would offer themselves voluntarily for the registration and the government would not enforce the law. Following the development, a section of the Indian community spread a smear campaign that Gandhiji and others had accepted 1,500 pounds from the British. On the day of registration, when Gandhiji was leading a group of people, he was attacked by one of his clients Mir Alam, who was opposed to the compromise.
Gandhiji fell unconscious and was taken by Reverend Joseph Dock, a priest, to his residence for treatment. Gandhi convalesced at Dock’s residence. Interestingly, Reverend Dock became the first biographer of Mahatma Gandhi. His book, ‘Mr Gandhi and Indian Patriots in South Africa’, came out in 1908-09. Unfortunately, Gandhiji’s South Africa sojourn remains uncovered in Gandhian literarure. “He spent more than two decades in South Africa, and it was one of the most significant periods of his life but nothing much is known except for broad perspectives,” says Tridip Suhrud, a scholar of Gandhian studies.
Source: Expressindia.com
On September 11, 1906, exactly a century ago in South Africa, a public meeting led by Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi and other Gujaratis laid the foundation of Satyagraha, that would soon become not just a national politico-social movement but an inspiring ideology as well. A public meeting was called at Empire Theatre, owned by a Jew, in Johannesburg by three Gujaratis— M K Gandhi, Sheth Abdul Gani and Sheth Hazi Habib to oppose the proposed Asiatic Registration Act.
The proposed bill had provisions to restrict free movement of Indians and Asians within the four South African colonies. The two major provisions were — registration of all Asians in South Africa and every individual, including women and children, was required to give impressions of all fingers at the time of registration. Indians were opposed to the provisions because generally criminals were required to give finger prints. Secondly, Muslims particularly were against the idea that their women should give finger impressions.
In the meeting, zealous speeches were delivered in Gujarati, Urdu, Tamil and Telugu. Gandhi had explained the meaning of the legislation and its implications for Indian communities. Among the many resolutions passed, the gist was that Indian communities would oppose the draft legislation and if enacted, would not submit to it and accept whatever punishment that might come their way for disobedience.
Standing up to speak in support of the resolution, Sheth Hazi Habib declared that ‘in the name of God’ and ‘with God as his witness’ he would not submit to the Act till the end of his life. After Sheth’s speech, Mohandas again explained that it was not an ordinary decision to take the pledge in the name of God. He said two things: Anybody who takes the pledge lightly and breaks it would lose his humanity and would commit a crime unto God.
Secondly, he said: “Nobody should take a pledge because others were taking. If you are convinced then only you take it.” Finally, Gandhi declared that “even if he were to be the only one to keep the pledge, he would do so unto death”. Thus began a new movement which was described initially as “passive resistance,” a term Gandhi disliked. So he announced a competition in the “Indian Opinion” which he used to run, to find a suitable name for the movement.
His cousin Maganlal Gandhi, who was also in South Africa, had given a name “Sadagrah” which Gandhiji later changed to “Satyagraha.” And this is how Satyagraha had its roots in South Africa.
What happened to the Bill?
The British went ahead and passed the bill in the Parliament of Transvaal and other colonies in South Africa. To protest the bill, Gandhiji and others launched a agitation and courted arrest and imprisonment. Later on General Smuts called Gandhiji for negotiations and Gandhiji was taken to the negotiating table in his prison clothes. So upon reaching there Gandhiji declared: “A prisoner has no right to negotiate. Only a free man can negotiate.” General Smuts, on the spot, signed the release order of Gandhi and others and a compromise was reached that Indians would offer themselves voluntarily for the registration and the government would not enforce the law. Following the development, a section of the Indian community spread a smear campaign that Gandhiji and others had accepted 1,500 pounds from the British. On the day of registration, when Gandhiji was leading a group of people, he was attacked by one of his clients Mir Alam, who was opposed to the compromise.
Gandhiji fell unconscious and was taken by Reverend Joseph Dock, a priest, to his residence for treatment. Gandhi convalesced at Dock’s residence. Interestingly, Reverend Dock became the first biographer of Mahatma Gandhi. His book, ‘Mr Gandhi and Indian Patriots in South Africa’, came out in 1908-09. Unfortunately, Gandhiji’s South Africa sojourn remains uncovered in Gandhian literarure. “He spent more than two decades in South Africa, and it was one of the most significant periods of his life but nothing much is known except for broad perspectives,” says Tridip Suhrud, a scholar of Gandhian studies.
Source: Expressindia.com
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