Can Bengal have its brawny industrial basis?

Let’s say a few words in the beginning. Bengal, which plays a highly imperative role in several sectors of India viz. history, politics, economy, and certainly culture, has been receding (better to say worsening) for decades without a single break and while one of the reasons of this steady downfall has been the left-wing adventurism and its colossal follies, strange anti-Bengali Hindu mindset prevalent in Delhi can’t be overlooked too. The state had enjoyed a competitive advantage over others thanks to its preeminence in British India and was able to retain this clout till last 60s, ended soon thanks to Left and Union Government, more interested to replace Calcutta by Bombay as the economic hub of the vast nation.

Nevertheless, the emergence of Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee as the Chief Minister of the hapless state (replacing the effete, grand Communist patriarch) led to a strong optimism and his vibrant speeches focusing on mantra “Do it now” created almost a frenzy. Nevertheless, almost a decade after those convulsions of emotions or exhilaration, the impetus has died down and the government’s catastrophe in both Singur and Nandigram proved to be too costly for the state’s industrial map.

Nevertheless, the Bengal CM is not ready to give up so easily and has been found, once again, to gear up for forging a strong industrial basis for the wretched state. This becomes more evident from the fact that he has requested members of the ASSOCHAM to help the government advance its 1994 industrial policy.

Commenting on this D S Rawat, Secretary of ASSOCHAM, said, "He wants an industrial policy that can capture the future course considering the comparative advantages the state has, and also suggest the suitable education for backward linkages."

It is to be noted that the Bengal Chief Minister, in an effort to solve land acquisition problems and imbroglio, wants the ASSOCHAM to appraise the compensation offered to the land losers in contrast to the package in other states. By the way, ASSOCHAM has given the CM a report on industrialization and as per it, Bengal is one of the foremost states to have fetched the maximum investment in the last decade.

According to the study, the state has received a cumulative investment proposal (till September 2009) of Rs 5.30 lakh crore in last 12 years in 1002 projects. Out of this 457 projects with an aggregate investment of Rs 2.25 lakh crore is under implementation.

Nothing can be said of the future. But at this time there is the need of hard precedents (in brief, good successes) instead of mere pompous words, if Bhattacharjee wants to ensure a come back. The state election is round the corner!