The Hindu : Kerala News : Consensus eludes debate on globalisation

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, May 02, 2004

Kerala

Kerala

Consensus eludes debate on globalisation

By Our Staff Reporter

KOCHI, MAY 1. Consensus eluded a debate on `globalisation, industrial crisis and trade unions' organised by the Kochi Refineries Workers Association as part of its May Day celebrations here today.

The panelists were V. B. Cherian, former CITU leader, K. Raman Pillai, BJP leader, Antony Isaac, GCDA chairman, E. S. Jose, former president of the Kerala Chamber of Commerce and Industry, M. S. Faizy, Advocate, and C. R. Neelakantan Nambuthiri, environmental activist.

Launching a forceful attack on globalisation, Mr. Cherian said the policies pursued by the Government had resulted in largescale unemployment. In real terms, globalisation was economic aggression, according to him. The globalisation policies were resulting in de-industrialisation. The agro-based industries were in doldrums which meant the farmers were in penury. Even private industries were feeling the pinch of the globalised economy. The ownership of public sector units was slowly moving into foreign hands, according to him. The growth as enunciated by the proponents of globalisation was ruthless, rootless and futureless, Mr. Cherian said.

Mr. Antony Isaac sought to justify the decision taken by the Narasimha Rao Government to sign the GATT. India had to improve its forex position to comply with the World Bank and IMF norms to avail of loans. He claimed that there was progress in the farming sector, but admitted that a great deal remained to be done, especially to increase the export of farm-based qualitative products. The country can't withdraw from the WTO at this juncture, he said. Referring to a query on the move for privatisation of State public sector units, he said the State would have to abide by the guidelines set in by the Union Government. Congress would not move against Nehruvian economics. ``We need stronger PSUs'', he said in reply to a question as to whether he or his party supported any move for sale of public sector oil companies. He also stressed the need for a human face to globalisation.

Mr. Raman Pillai accused the public sector company managements of inefficiency which created a situation leading to the sale of shares which he termed as `public participation'. He also pointed out that the GATT was signed by the Congress Government. The Left Government should own up the responsibility for de-industrialisation in Kerala, he said.

Mr. Jose felt that enough support was not being extended to private sector to flourish. Industrialists were getting ready to compete globally, he said. He pointed out that countries like Japan and China had made tremendous progress by becoming part of WTO.

Mr. Nambuthiri said poverty was increasing faster than the growth rates achieved in productive spheres. He also felt that the country could withdraw from the GATT. Mr.Faizy apprehended that the sword of privatisation could fall on KRL too.

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