The Hindu Business Line : Videocon Group to offer upfront employment to Bengal farmers

Kolkata, June 30 Videocon Group plans to offer upfront employment to farmers and prospective landlosers in its proposed four Special Economic Zones (SEZs) in West Bengal. This is over and above the projected job creation in the SEZs. The company also favours direct buy-out of land taking the people into confidence.

The model, first introduced by Videcon Group in its upcoming SEZ in Aurangabad in Maharashtra and found successful, may emerge as a watershed development in the disturbed SEZ scenario in Bengal, post-Nandigram.

Farmers had refused to part with land for the proposed chemical hub – a mega SEZ – at Nandigram. This subsequently led to violent protests and loss of lives. Though the State Government has already dropped its plan for the SEZ at Nandigram, political turmoil over it continues to haunt the locals.

‘Direct buyout’

Talking to newspersons here today, the Videocon Chairman, Mr Venugopal N. Dhoot, said the group was in no hurry to procure land for the SEZs as public sentiment was still very low over land acquisition issues in the State. “We are willing to wait,” he said.

Stating that he was in favour of a “direct buyout of land after convincing the farmers about a fair deal”, Mr Dhoot said the Government’s role should be limited to that of a facilitator.

“There are various models that we can adopt but we wish to replicate the Aurangabad model here,” the Videocon Chairman said.

The company may offer upfront employment to 200 people in each of the proposed SEZs in the State.

Videocon has proposed a bio-tech SEZ with a Thai partner and an electronics hardware, software and ITeS SEZ both at Siliguri in north Bengal. Besides, it also plans to set up a semiconductor design-cum-fabrication SEZ and a multi-product SEZ in North 24 Parganas.

The company is currently setting up an IT park at Rajarhat near Kolkata.

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