International Conspiracy, Latest Logic of Repression by Marxist Gestapo Mechanism!

International Conspiracy, Latest Logic of Repression by Marxist Gestapo Mechanism!

Indian Holocaust My Father`s Life and Time - Thirty

Palash Biswas


Buddhadeb Now sees International conspiracy! What for? Is it a Marxist government at all? Does this government undermine US interests or it has decided to overthrow the Zionist Brahminical system? Who is opposing his brand of capitalist Development?
Mrs Indiran gandhi was most quoted to warn of international conspiracies whenever she faced any challange within!
Mind you, this is the latest logic of repression by Marxist Gestapo Mechanism!

International conspiracy to destabilse India, says Buddhadeb while India’s ruling Congress party looked set to lose power in the tiny western tourist state of Goa on Thursday after a group of legislators withdrew their support to the coalition. Expressing concern at terrorist activities in West Bengal like last year’s blast at a railway station in Jalpaiguri that killed eight people, Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee today said this was part of an international conspiracy to destablise India from within. Buddhadev Bhattacharjee today admitted that his Left Front government was not free from corruption and his `do-it-now` slogan given a year ago could not overnight bring transparency in the administration.

A total of 40 people were killed in political clashes in West Bengal last year, Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee told the assembly today.

The 40 included 24 CPI-M activists, three members each of the Trinamool Congress and congress and 10 from parties like the Gorkha National Liberational Front and Jharkhand Party, he said while replying to a question.

A total of 3,998 arrests were made in connection with the clashes and 19 cases were registered, he said.

West Bengal`s opposition Trinamool Congress today rejected Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacherjee`s apology and appeal to lift its boycott of the assembly shortly after he expressed regret for his alleged derogatory remarks about the leader of the opposition.The political heat over farmland acquisition issue, sought to be cooled down during the recent parleys between Marxist veteran Jyoti Basu and Trinamool chief Mamata Banerjee, is still raging in West Bengal with the latter’s decision to boycott the chief minister for his alleged derogatory remarks in the Assembly recently.

The Basu-Mamata talks, which generated hope of an early restoration of peace in trouble-torn Singur and Nandigram as also ensuring normal relations between the government and the opposition, received a setback nearly a month after over the Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharya’s comments against the opposition leader in the state Assembly.

The Trinamool Congress’ decision to boycott all House proceedings where the Chief Minister will be present, has come at a time when the state Assembly is on its extended budget session and that is likely to continue till end of this month.

The chances of rapprochement between the ruling Left Front and the main opposition Trinamool Congress over the controversial farmland acquisition issue had brightened after the former Chief Minister’s diplomacy. The exercise however, received the jolt with the Chief Minister’s comments on opposition leader Partha Chatterjee.

During his reply to Home (police) department’s budget speech last week, the Chief Minister made a remark against Chatterjee, questioning his power and liberty to speak in his own party without fear.

It was a matter of concern that explosives used to trigger the blast at Belakoba Railway Station were brought from outside and local people were involved in the attack, he told the assembly in reply to a question.

Terrorists were active along the Western and the Eastern borders. "If we look at Pakistan and Afganistan, we can see what shape terrorism is taking on the subcontinent," he said.

Asked whether the US had a hand in this conspiracy, Bhattacharjee replied that the US had a role wherever terrorist activities were taking place across the world.

"I cannot say specifically whether the US has a hand here, but there is no doubt that they play some role in the subcontinent," he said in reply to a supplementary question.

Bhattacharjee said the state government was working in tandem with the Centre to combat terrorist activities. The danger remained despite stepped up vigil, he said.

Noting that information was regularly exchanged among intelligence agencies of the state, the Centre, the Army and BSF, he said in some cases, arrests were made on the basis of information provided by the central agencies.

Bhattacharjee, who also holds the home portfolio, admitted there were some weakness in the state intelligence agencies.

Replying to a question on the Kamtapur Liberation Organisation (KLO), he said after the operation by Bhutan’s army against rebels sheltering in the kingdom, KLO activities had stopped for some time and the militants took shelter in a neighbouring country.

The KLO was now trying to re-group in Cooch Behar, Jalpaiguri and Siliguri in North Bengal, where vigil had been stepped up. The KLO problem would persist because of the Ulfa in Assam, he said.

Claiming that the KLO and other groups did not have the people’s support, he said the state government had initiated a process to bring KLO militants back to the mainstream and around 150 of them had returned. But other groups like the Kamtapur People’s Party were coordinating among themselves.

To another question, he said the state government would provide compensation of Rs 50,000 to families of the eight persons killed in the blast at Belakoba Railway Station. But this was getting delayed due to a complicated procedure, he said.

Asked whether the state had sought more security forces from the Centre, Bhattacharjee said: "We have asked for more forces keeping in mind the situation in Jammu and Kashmir and the Western border."

Undersecretary of State Nicholas Burns said on Wednesday that a just-completed nuclear deal with India complies with U.S. law, but some experts doubted that, and lawmakers said the agreement could face a rough road in the U.S. Congress.
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Congressional sources and other experts told Reuters the agreement reached last week appears to go a long way toward meeting the demands of India’s nuclear establishment, giving New Delhi rights only accorded to key U.S. allies Japan and the European Union.

"The administration is going to call this a success even though from policy and legal perspectives, there are major problems," said one congressional source, who spoke anonymously because he learned details of the deal on a confidential basis.

The pact, approved by India’s cabinet on Wednesday, would allow India access to U.S. nuclear fuel and equipment for the first time in 30 years, even though New Delhi refused to join non-proliferation pacts and tested nuclear weapons.

"We’re very satisfied because we know the agreement is well within the bounds of the Hyde Act," Burns told reporters after testifying before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

The Hyde Act, approved by Congress in December, created a unique exception to U.S. export law to allow nuclear cooperation with India. The just-completed agreement, called a 123 agreement after a section of the U.S. Atomic Energy Act, spells out technical details for that nuclear cooperation.

Communist Buddha of West Bengal confesses corruption but does any one know how much they have milked from expatriate Indians (NRIs)
Media Release
Jul. 26, 2007

Countless money has been stolen by the West Bengal communists from expatraite Indians who tried to set up industries in West Bangal but did not understand only bribes work with these communists.

These communists are in bed with Indian oligarchs like Tata, Birla, Ambanis who feed them well with money. These communists will do anything to get hold of money. They preach laziness in west Bengal. The approach to the expatriate Indian is simple - you have it, I do noy. So your’s is mine.

When it comes to Indian oligarchs, the comminists are straightened top to the bottom. Thge oligarchs treat these communists as street dogs. They throw a some crores of Rupees (million of dollars) and ask them to secure the oligrachs” interests at the cost of common people and poor farmers.

The communists are now in bed with Intalian born Sonia Gandhi’s congress party too. That has happened because Indian oligrachs want that to happen.

http://www.indiadaily.com/editorial/17692.asp



CIA, ISI had plan for militancy in Punjab: Ex-RAW official

The US had an "interest" in Punjab militancy and hatched a "covert action plan" in collusion with Pakistan`s ISI in 1971 to encourage a separatist movement in the border state, says a new book by a former top Indian intelligence officer. The American "interest" in Punjab militancy lasted for a little more than a decade through the seventies and eighties after the covert plan was initiated by the Richard Nixon administration, says the book.
http://www.zeenews.com/znnew/index.asp

Disinvestment white paper in next session, no change in policy

New Del: The much-delayed status report on disinvestment process during the previous NDA government will be tabled in parliament in the coming monsoon session.

The white paper on disinvestment since 1999, which has been in the making since the UPA regime took over, would finally be tabled after sustained pressure of the parliamentary standing committee on finance.

"Standing committee on finance has been repeatedly insisting on the government to place a white paper in Parliament on disinvestment. It is nothing but a chronological development of the entire scenario of disinvestment since 1999. It does not mean we are changing policy," Information and Broadcasting Minister Priyaranjan Dasmunsi told newsmen after the Cabinet meeting that cleared the paper.

He said the national common minimum programme has made it abundantly clear that UPA coalition shall not encourage nor implement and support any strategic sale and that policy stands as it was.

After the document is placed in Parliament, there can be a debate on it. The Parliament is meeting for monsoon session between August 10 and September 14.

Since 1999, government has given up the controlling stake in 12 central public sector companies apart from selling hotel properties owned by India Tourism Development Corporation and Air India’s subsidiary Hotel Corporation of India.

The government has raised more than Rs 10,350 crore since NDA government took office from strategic sales.




Special Economic Zone

A Special Economic Zone (SEZ) is a geographical region that has economic laws that are more liberal than a country’s typical economic laws. The category ‘SEZ’ covers a broad range of more specific zone types, including Free Trade Zones (FTZ), Export Processing Zones (EPZ), Free Zones (FZ), Industrial Estates (IE), Free Ports, Urban Enterprise Zones and others. Usually the goal of an SEZ structure is to increase foreign investment. One of the earliest and the most famous Special Economic Zones were founded by the government of the People’s Republic of China under Deng Xiaoping in the early 1980s. The most successful Special Economic Zone in China, Shenzhen, has developed from a small village into a city with a population over 10 million within 20 years. Following the Chinese examples, Special Economic Zones have been established in several countries, including Brazil, Pakistan, India, Iran, Jordan, Poland, Kazakhstan, the Philippines,Russia, and Ukraine. North Korea has also attempted this to a degree, but failed. Currently, Puno, Peru has been slated to become a "Zona Ecomomica" by its president Alan Garcia. A single SEZ can contain multiple ’specific’ zones within its boundaries. The two most prominent examples of this layered approach are Subic Bay in the Philippines and the Aqaba Special Economic Zone in Jordan.

According to World Bank estimates, as of 2007 there are more than 3,000 projects taking place in SEZs in 120 countries worldwide.

SEZs have been implemented using a variety of institutional structures across the world ranging from fully public (government operator, government developer, government regulator) to ‘fully’ private (private operator, private developer, public regulator). In many cases, public sector operators and developers act as quasi-government agencies in that they have a pseudo-corporate institutional structure and have budgetary autonomy. SEZs are often developed under a Public-Private-Partnership arrangement, in which the public sector provides some level of support (provision of off-site infrastructure, equity investment, soft loans, bond issues, etc) to enable a private sector developer to obtain a reasonable rate of return on the project (typically 10-20% depending on risk levels).
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SEZ

Development and Technology
( The Statesman, June 29, 2007)

http://www.thestatesman.net/page.news.php?clid=4&theme=&usrsess=1&id=161080

We can modernise our agriculture through innovations in cooperation with our research organisations. And technology should disturb the environment and the ecosystem the least, suggests MANAS JOARDAR

Incidents of brutal atrocity in Singur and Nandigram are quite fresh in our memory. In context of the present agitation against land acquisition and industrialisation drive here, it is worthwhile to recollect the plight of the English workers in Britain during the early years of industrial revolution. A large pool of displaced farmers and farm workers was forced to leave villages and joined factories as industrial workers. They were an extremely exploited lot. The Saddler Committee, constituted on the issue, made the round of a horrible working condition of the workers.
China with an enviable GDP growth record after implementing quite a few industrialisation projects under the SEZ scheme with tax and labour rules favouring the industrialists, has been facing agitation in recent times by millions of displaced farmers and jobless factory workers. Environmental pollution is exceedingly high. Of the twenty most polluted cities of the world, sixteen are in China. With labour-scarce modern technology, benefit of industrialisation is being enjoyed by the privileged section only. Inequality is rapidly growing there. Gini Index has jumped from 35 in 1990 to 45 in 2003. For America, the figures are 35 in 1970 and 41 in 2003.
Policy formulators of our country, overzealous to imitate the China way, seem to have rubbished the darker side of the SEZ experience of China. A top politician of UP reportedly received a new plane as return gift from a leading industrialist who (courtesy - the politician) was offered one thousand hectares of agricultural land under the SEZ scheme.
In the post-industrial revolution ages, spectacular advancement of science took place in the Western world. This led to new technological innovations that sought to make people’s life more comfortable. Industries readily took them up to produce consumer goods. Overthrowing all religious barriers upon gluttony and greed, people of the West jumped upon raising their standard of living. Added to colonial exploitation, industrial development helped them accumulate more wealth.
Rabindranath Tagore, during his pretty long tour of some western countries in the 1920s, was overwhelmed by their scientific achievements, but at the same time their insatiable greed pained him utterly.
Apart from various branches of science and technology, tremendous progress has been made in developing destructive war weapons too, by trading which the industrialised countries are getting richer and richer. Ironically, the five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council – a body to ensure global peace – are five prominent weapon traders too. They export over three-fourths of all conventional weapons.
As a fall-out of industrialisation and urbanisation, forests and wetlands are being destroyed. Stock of fossil fuel and other minerals is getting exhausted. The level of underground water is steadily going down. The ozone layer at the stratosphere is getting depleted, making way for almost uninterrupted entry of harmful ultraviolet rays from the sun. Tropical rainforest, once considered as the lungs of the planet, generating over 20 per cent of oxygen, is being rapidly destroyed by the wood and paper-pulp traders of the West. Air and water are being heavily polluted.
Following a series of events the world over, it is now almost conclusively established that global warming caused by greenhouse gases (GHG), comprising about 77 per cent of carbon dioxide, is not a myth. In an article published a few years back in the British journal Nature, it was estimated that over one million species of plants and animals, one-fourth of all life in the world, would be extinct within 2050 due to man-made climate change.
During a recent sitting in Bangkok, the Inter-governmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) reported that emission of GHG has gone up by 70 per cent between 1970 and 2004. Carbon dioxide has increased by 80 per cent. Increase of GHG during the period was maximum in the power generation sector – about 145 per cent, next was vehicular emission – 120 per cent, followed by industrial emission – 65 per cent.
Through globalisation, policies are being so formulated as to help the rich countries pile up wealth for lifting their hedonistic life-style without caring for the other world where more than 2.5 billion people live in extreme poverty. More than 10 million children die each year before attaining the age of five. Around one billion people lack access to safe water and some 1.75 million die each year due to cholera, dysentery and other diarrhoeal diseases The richest 10 per cent own 85 per cent of the global assets, and the bottom half only 1 per cent. The inequality between the rich and the poor is on the rise in countries where 80 per cent of the global population lives. The IPCC recommended downsizing of lifestyle. The richer section can cut down on use of natural resources and reduce pollution substantially.
In 2005, Nelson Mandela observed: “Massive poverty and obscene inequality are such terrible scourges of our times – times in which the world boasts of breathtaking advances in science, technology, industry and wealth accumulation – that they have to rank alongside slavery and apartheid as social evils.” The liberalisation policy under the structural adjustment programme of the World Bank, has been depriving the Indian farmers. During the past 12/13 years, over 1,50,000 of them have committed suicide.
In formulating development strategy for our country, we must keep in mind that the western model may not work here. Our historical tradition and geographical location are different. We can modernise, as we have done through the ages, our agriculture through innovations in cooperation with our research organisations. We must put stress on development of the underprivileged section. The technology should disturb the environment and the ecosystem the least. We should aim at a sustainable development paradigm.
Much water and electricity can be saved by avoiding wastage and by using more efficient appliances. Dependence on fossil fuel has to be reduced. We must say “No” to nuclear power. Pollution control measures need to be strictly monitored.
With huge solar and wind energy available here, we should fully utilise them. Small hydropower is another source of clean energy which can be generated with natural falls, run-of-river and back water. Quite a few such installations are working successfully. Biofuels derived from agricultural residues and the seeds of neem, jatropha, ratanjyot and some other trees may play an important role in the transport sector. Such efforts have already started through self-help groups in Puducherry and Dehradun with technical know-how from the IIT, Delhi.
About five lakh women and children die each year due to diseases related to smoke emitted during cooking. Dr Karve has devised a bio-gas plant that needs only vegetable residues, waste food, green leaves, etc. It requires only 1 kg of feedstock against 40 kg of cow-dung. The digestion process is also quick – 48 hours instead of 40 days. More than seven hundred such units have already been installed in Maharashtra.
Sulabh Public Toilet founded by Dr Pathak in 1970, has been quite a successful sanitation device. It has been further modified to make it more suitable for rural areas. The Centrally sponsored Rural Sanitation Programme, supported by UNICEF, is another low-cost project providing proper sanitation facility.
Besides all this, micro-irrigation, rain water harvesting and, hopefully, many more small innovations shall work wonders through community participation, if, of course, political will is not lacking.

(The author, a former member of the Senate and Syndicate, is a retired teacher of Applied Physics, Calcutta University)

India was one of the first in Asia to recognize the effectiveness of the Export Processing Zone (EPZ) model in promoting exports, with Asia’s first EPZ set up in Kandla in 1965. With a view to overcome the shortcomings experienced on account of the multiplicity of controls and clearances; absence of world-class infrastructure, and an unstable fiscal regime and with a view to attract larger foreign investments in India, the Special Economic Zones (SEZs) Policy was announced in April 2000.

This policy intended to make SEZs an engine for economic growth supported by quality infrastructure complemented by an attractive fiscal package, both at the Centre and the State level, with the minimum possible regulations. SEZs in India functioned from 1.11.2000 to 09.02.2006 under the provisions of the Foreign Trade Policy and fiscal incentives were made effective through the provisions of relevant statutes.

To instill confidence in investors and signal the Government’s commitment to a stable SEZ policy regime and with a view to impart stability to the SEZ regime thereby generating greater economic activity and employment through the establishment of SEZs, a comprehensive draft SEZ Bill prepared after extensive discussions with the stakeholders. A number of meetings were held in various parts of the country both by the Minister for Commerce and Industry as well as senior officials for this purpose. The Special Economic Zones Act, 2005, was passed by Parliament in May, 2005 which received Presidential assent on the 23rd of June, 2005. The draft SEZ Rules were widely discussed and put on the website of the Department of Commerce offering suggestions/comments. Around 800 suggestions were received on the draft rules. After extensive consultations, the SEZ Act, 2005, supported by SEZ Rules, came into effect on 10th February, 2006, providing for drastic simplification of procedures and for single window clearance on matters relating to central as well as state governments. The main objectives of the SEZ Act are:



(a) generation of additional economic activity
(b) promotion of exports of goods and services;
(c) promotion of investment from domestic and foreign sources;
(d) creation of employment opportunities;
(e) development of infrastructure facilities;



It is expected that this will trigger a large flow of foreign and domestic investment in SEZs, in infrastructure and productive capacity, leading to generation of additional economic activity and creation of employment opportunities.

The SEZ Act 2005 envisages key role for the State Governments in Export Promotion and creation of related infrastructure. A Single Window SEZ approval mechanism has been provided through a 19 member inter-ministerial SEZ Board of Approval (BoA). The applications duly recommended by the respective State Governments/UT Administration are considered by this BoA periodically. All decisions of the Board of approvals are with consensus.

The SEZ Rules provide for different minimum land requirement for different class of SEZs. Every SEZ is divided into a processing area where alone the SEZ units would come up and the non-processing area where the supporting infrastructure is to be created.

The SEZ Rules provide for :

Simplified procedures for development, operation, and maintenance of the Special Economic Zones and for setting up units and conducting business in SEZs;
Single window clearance for setting up of an SEZ;
Single window clearance for setting up a unit in a Special Economic Zone;
Single Window clearance on matters relating to Central as well as State Governments;
Simplified compliance procedures and documentation with an emphasis on self certification
Approval mechanism and Administrative set up of SEZs



Approval mechanism
The developer submits the proposal for establishment of SEZ to the concerned State Government. The State Government has to forward the proposal with its recommendation within 45 days from the date of receipt of such proposal to the Board of Approval. The applicant also has the option to submit the proposal directly to the Board of Approval.

The Board of Approval has been constituted by the Central Government in exercise of the powers conferred under the SEZ Act. All the decisions are taken in the Board of Approval by consensus. The Board of Approval has 19 Members. Its constitution is as follows:

(1)
Secretary, Department of Commerce
Chairman

(2)
Member, CBEC
Member

(3)
Member, IT, CBDT
Member

(4)
Joint Secretary (Banking Division), Department of Economic Affairs, Ministry of Finance

(5)
Joint Secretary (SEZ), Department of Commerce
Member

(6)
Joint Secretary, DIPP
Member

(7)
Joint Secretary, Ministry of Science and Technology
Member

(8)
Joint Secretary, Ministry of Small Scale Industries and Agro and Rural Industries
Member

(9)
Joint Secretary, Ministry of Home Affairs
Member

(10)
Joint Secretary, Ministry of Defence
Member

(11)
Joint Secretary, Ministry of Environment and Forests
Member

(12)
Joint Secretary, Ministry of Law and Justice
Member

(13)
Joint Secretary, Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs
Member

(14)
Joint Secretary, Ministry of Urban Development
Member

(15)
A nominee of the State Government concerned
Member

(16)
Director General of Foreign Trade or his nominee
Member

(17)
Development Commissioner concerned
Member

(18)
A professor in the Indian Institute of Management or the Indian Institute of Foreign Trade
Member

(19)
Director or Deputy Sectary, Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Department of Commerce
Member Secretary


Administrative set up
The functioning of the SEZs is governed by a three tier administrative set up. The Board of Approval is the apex body and is headed by the Secretary, Department of Commerce. The Approval Committee at the Zone level deals with approval of units in the SEZs and other related issues. Each Zone is headed by a Development Commissioner, who is ex-officio chairperson of the Approval Committee.



Once an SEZ has been approved by the Board of Approval and Central Government has notified the area of the SEZ, units are allowed to be set up in the SEZ. All the proposals for setting up of units in the SEZ are approved at the Zone level by the Approval Committee consisting of Development Commissioner, Customs Authorities and representatives of State Government. All post approval clearances including grant of importer-exporter code number, change in the name of the company or implementing agency, broad banding diversification, etc. are given at the Zone level by the Development Commissioner. The performance of the SEZ units are periodically monitored by the Approval Committee and units are liable for penal action under the provision of Foreign Trade (Development and Regulation) Act, in case of violation of the conditions of the approval.



Incentives and facilities offered to the SEZs
The incentives and facilities offered to the units in SEZs for attracting investments into the SEZs, including foreign investment include:-

Duty free import/domestic procurement of goods for development, operation and maintenance of SEZ units
100% Income Tax exemption on export income for SEZ units under Section 10AA of the Income Tax Act for first 5 years, 50% for next 5 years thereafter and 50% of the ploughed back export profit for next 5 years.
Exemption from minimum alternate tax under section 115JB of the Income Tax Act.
External commercial borrowing by SEZ units upto US $ 500 million in a year without any maturity restriction through recognized banking channels.
Exemption from Central Sales Tax.
Exemption from Service Tax.
Single window clearance for Central and State level approvals.
Exemption from State sales tax and other levies as extended by the respective State Governments.
The major incentives and facilities available to SEZ developers include:-

Exemption from customs/excise duties for development of SEZs for authorized operations approved by the BOA.
Income Tax exemption on export income for a block of 10 years in 15 years under Section 80-IAB of the Income Tax Act.
Exemption from minimum alternate tax under Section 115 JB of the Income Tax Act.
Exemption from dividend distribution tax under Section 115O of the Income Tax Act.
Exemption from Central Sales Tax (CST).
Exemption from Service Tax (Section 7, 26 and Second Schedule of the SEZ Act).
SEZ Approval Status
Consequent upon the SEZ Rules coming into effect w.e.f. 10th February, 2006, fifteen meetings of the Board of Approvals have since been held. During these meetings, formal approval has been granted to 341 SEZ proposals and in-principle approval has been granted to 171 SEZ proposals. Out of the formal approvals, 130 SEZs have been notified.

Land requirements for approved Special Economic Zones:

The total land requirement for the 341 formal approvals granted till date is approximately 44268 hectares out of which about 87 approvals are for State Industrial Development Corporations/State Government Ventures which account for over 21169 hectares. In these cases, the land already available with the State Governments or SIDCs or with private companies has been utilized for setting up SEZ. The land for the 130 notified SEZs where operations have since commenced involved is approximately 17663 hectares only.

Out of the total land area of 2973190 sq km in India, total agricultural land is of the order of 1620388 sq km (54.5%). It is interesting to note that out of this total land area, the land in possession of the 130 SEZs notified amounts to approximately 177 sq km only. The 341 formal approvals granted also works out to only around 443 sq km.



SEZs- leading to the growth of labour intensive manufacturing industry:
Out of the 341 formal approvals given till date, over 120 approvals are for sector specific and multi product SEZs for manufacture of Textiles & Apparels, Leather Footwear, Automobile components, Engineering etc.. which would involve labour intensive manufacturing. The employment projected in the 130 SEZs notified so far is over 17,43,530 additional jobs. SEZs are thus going to lead to creation of employment for large number of unemployed rural youth. Nokia and Flextronics electronics hardware SEZs in Sriperumbudur are already providing employment to 3800 and 2069 persons, majority of which are women. Hyderabad Gems SEZ for Jewellery manufacturing in Hyderabad has already employed 1200 girls majority of whom are from landless families, after providing training to them. They have a projected direct employment for about 30,000 persons. Apache SEZ being set up in Andhra Pradesh will employ 20, 000 persons to manufacture 10,00,000 pairs of shoes every month. Current employment in Apache SEZ is 2500 persons. Brandix Apparels, a Sri Lankan FDI project would provide employment to 60,000 workers over a period of 3 years. Even in the services sector, 12.5 million sq meters space is expected in the IT/ITES SEZs which as per the NASSCOM standards translates into 12.5 lakh jobs. It is, therefore, expected that establishment of SEZs would lead to fast growth of labour intensive manufacturing and services in the country.



Benefits derived from SEZs

Benefit derived from SEZs is evident from the investment, employment, exports and infrastructural developments additionally generated. Investment of the order of Rs.100,000 crores!