Amid the celebrations, the frenzied preparations for the jamboree planned in the form of a mela, there are hints that Mamata is gradually coming to terms with reality - trying to evolve into a mature administrator from the streetfighter politician who would call a protest march at the drop of a hat.
There have been initial hiccups, and trial by fire, and the government is perhaps learning it the hard way to be able to take the bull by the horns.
To begin with, Mamata has a debt burden of Rs 2.08 lakh crore inherited from the former Left Front government, for which Bengal has to pay a whopping Rs 21,500 crore - as interest and principal repayment - every year to the Centre. This amounts to a neat Rs 1,800 crore a month. The Bengal CM has been urging, pleading, and even threatening Delhi for a three-year moratorium on interest and principal which amounts to Rs 64,000 crore, as well as a debt restructuring.
But after blowing hot and cold on the issue for a while, Mamata seems to be willing to be a little more patient after her meeting with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. Mamata, who is emerging as a key player in national politics, understands that she must play her cards judiciously.
Successes, gaffes and failures have all been part of the first year of journey. There were also areas where the government hit the bull's eye - like handling the Maoist menace.
There has been a lull in rebel activity after Kishanji's death in an encounter. Twenty-three Maoists, including hard-core rebels like Jagori Baske and Suchitra Mahato, have surrendered. The last Maoist killing was in November 2011, when two Trinamool supporters were killed in Purulia. Armed cadres are hardly seen moving around in Jangalmahal. But whether this is the lull before a storm, only time will tell.
Then there is Darjeeling - an intractable problem. There has been a turnaround from the days of bandhs during the Left Front rule and tourism is booming again. The signing of the Gorkha Territorial Administration (GTA) agreement has cooled down the fiery agitation in the Hills.
Many say Mamata has simply swept the problem under the carpet and tension is still simmering in the Hills, Dooars and plains. While the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) is adamant that 398 mouzas of the Terai and Dooars be included in the GTA, anti-GJM outfits in the plains are opposed to such a move. Implementation of GTA, holding elections are tricky issues to be worked out, and "Gorkhaland" has not been dropped from the list of demands.
Industrialization in the last year has been nothing to write home about. The major reason behind is perhaps the state's policy not to acquire land for industrial purposes.
Industry heads are worried it will have a negative impact in the long run, because considering the fragmented nature of holdings in Bengal, it would be difficult to purchase huge contiguous stretches of land.
The positive thing has been amending the land ceiling under Section 14Y of the West Bengal Land Reforms Act, 1955, to accommodate the new age industry to hold more than 24 acre. The new government has made the relaxation applicable for more sectors than the Left Front government did. It also allows transfer of the land. According to industrialists, it will remove the hurdle of land transfer which is necessary for setting up industrial hubs where land is leased out to entrepreneurs.
The government has also made the process of applying for setting up new industry quite hassle free - earlier if there were 99 forms to submit, now there are only seven. The West Bengal Industrial Development Corporation ( WBIDC) has made lease agreements with investors friendly in consultation with banks. At least 15 lease new agreements were signed in the last one year.
But compare this with the government's anti-SEZ policy, which has already had an impact on the proposed investment of Infosys, and the Mamata Banerjee government still has a long way to go to project an industry friendly image.
Source: timesofindia
Post a Comment
We love to hear from you! What's on your mind?