Singur and Nandigram Violence

Presented To- Dr. K.

Velentina
By- Bhavika
Bonu Hembram
Himanshu Bhardwaj
Ivan Minj
Kunal Anand
Manasvi Bhagawat
 Contents
❖ INTRODUCTION- SINGUR AND NANDIGRAM VIOLENCE
❖ WHAT LED TO THE ACTS OF VIOLENCE?

-The Events

-The Consequences
❖ ANALYSIS OF THE SITUATION
❖ UNDERSTANDING IN THE CONTEXT OF ETHICAL THEORIES

-Utilitarianism

-Deontology

-Virtue Ethics
❖ SUGGESTIONS and CASE STUDY
❖ PRESENT MODEL
❖ CONCLUDING THOUGHTS
 Introduction- Singur and Nandigram Violence
❖ Nandigram Violence refers to the violence in
Nandigram, West Bengal, India, in 2007 due to the
land acquisition for a project taken up by the
CPI(M)-led Government of West Bengal to create a
chemical hub, a type of Special Economic Zone
zone(SEZ) in the region of East Midnapore i.e.
Nandigram and Singur.

❖ Singur and Nandigram is an another finest

example of peasants’ movements on the soil of
West Bengal where local masses came forward
and agitated against the economic onslaught of
multinational companies which in the name of
constructing chemical plant was actually taking
away the source of their very subsistence and
existence i.e. their agricultural lands.
 How a Development Project took shape of a Massacre?
The Events:
On March 14, 2007, Nandigram, West Bengal,
India
❖ land acquisition for a project taken up by
the CPI(M)-led
Government of West Bengal
❖ Try to create a chemical hub,
special economic zone (SEZ).
❖ Salim Group of Indonesia required 10,000
acres (4,000 ha) of land owned by farmers
in the region.
❖ The farmers gathered under the Bhoomi
Raksha Committee, which was backed by
Maoists.
❖ While the governor was airborne and
unavailable, police entered.
❖ The policy led to an emergency in the
region, and 14 people died in a police
shooting & many injured.
The CPI(M), BUPC (Bhumi Uchhed Pratirodh
Committee),Trinamool and the Maoists where the
main players.

❖ All India Trinamool Congress, Mamata Banerjee

party noted the issue, and the slogan
Ma Mati Manush as used in their election.
❖ (BUPC) blocked roads leading into the region to
demands to cancel this project.
❖ Baton-wielding police fired tear gas and beat
dozens of villagers on 15 March who were
protesting the killing of at least 14 people in a
dispute over plans to set up an industrial hub
on farmland.
❖ The Calcutta High Court ordered a CBI probe
into the police firing.
❖ At least 2,000 protesters, most of them farmers
and opposition activists, set fire to a
government building in Nandigram.
❖ Left Front government withdraw the land
acquisition.
❖ Fall of Left Front government in West Bengal.
The Consequences:
❖ Loss of people and property due to usage of illegal
means of violent measures: : State-run buses were
burnt in Kolkata, and rail tracks and roads blocked, as a
spill-over of the protests over unfair acquisition of
land by the government for industrial projects in West
Bengal's villages.
❖ Disruption of communication and essential services:
The villages there had been made inaccessible with the
villagers and political activists protesting the land
acquisition process, having dug up all the approach
roads to the villages a couple of months ago.
❖ Violence committed on Women: Women protestors
were raped and brutally killed.
❖ Erosion of national fabric: The killings were the worst
violence yet over communist-run West Bengal's plans to
acquire land for a low-tax Special Economic Zone (SEZ)
at Nandigram, a dispute that has also undermined the
national government's economic reform plans.
❖ Erosion of social contract: Neglect by the government
and the authorities made people feel the heat and set
them abashed in the state of anarchy.
 Analysis of the Situation
Role of Women: Singur and Nandigram is an
another example of illegal and forceful
acquisition of land where just like before it were
the local masses, primarily the women who
raised their voice to curb the atrocities
committed on them in the name of development.

Role of Local Organizations: Despite their

small size and unorganized structure, the
outlook and the reach of these organizations
was not stunted as these played a large role in
people mobilisation and spreading awareness of
civil rights and liberties. They also helped in
addressing the local aspirations of the people
and thus bringing their issues at the national
front.
Understanding in the Context of Ethical Theories
3. DEONTOLOGY : Deontology theory say that “what is right rather than what is good” IN Nandigram violence case
Bhumi Uchhed pratirodh committee (BUPC) blocked roads leading into the region from January to March 2007, that time is
“Right rather than good” BUPC came in support of farmers land acquisition Several FIRs were registered at the Nandigram
and Khejuri police stations alleging arson and looting. The complaints could not be investigated by local police, who could
not enter the villages during the standoff. Thousands of leftist supporters, attacked and driven from their homes, were housed
in camps.

4. KANTIANISM THEORY : Kant’s theory say that “good in itself without qualification” After the red blood violence in
Nandigram Film directors Aparna sen and Rituporna Ghosh announced that they would boycott the Kolkata International
Film Festival in protest of the renewed violence. Sen said, "Nandigram has become a slaughter house with blood being shed
every day. CPI(M) might be at the helm of affairs but the state still belongs to us".
 Suggestions
(i) The police and the bureaucracy should
keep themselves aloof from political
influence.

(ii) The party in power should always be

alive to its constitutional obligation to rule
without favour and prejudice.

(iii) The opposition has a right to highlight

the failures of the Government and to
educate the people about the policies,
which it considers harmful. While it may
take recourse to peaceful agitation, it
should in no case encourage people to
indulge in unlawful activities.

(iv) There should be a continuous dialogue

between the party in power and the
 The press has a pivotal role to play in a
(v)
democratic set up, therefore, it should always
adopt a balanced and unbiased approach in
reporting the events.
(vi) Whether agriculture land should be
acquired or not for industry or projects like
SEZ is a moot question. Agriculture being the
only source of livelihood for the farmers,
compensation in terms of money for
acquisition of their land may not be adequate.
In the process of rehabilitation of such
displaced people as a result of acquisition of
land, the Government should take the local
people into confidence and it should also
ensure alternative means of livelihood and
shelter for the displaced.
(vii) Whether in addition to monetary
compensation, any other land can be given to
relocate or can be linked to the project for
which the land is acquired by allocating
adequate number of shares and providing
employment to at least one member of each
affected family.
CASE STUDY: Farmers Oppose Land Acquisition for Development of
Naya Raipur in Chhattisgarh
Nature of Protest
Demand/Contention of the Affected Community
Advocacy (for inclusion in courts)
Complaint against procedural violations Protests/marches

Demand for more compensation than promised Strikes

Complaints/petitions/letters/memorandums to officials
Region Classification Urban and Rural
Development of a network or collective

Government Departments Involved in the

Type of Land Both
Conflict:
Type of Common Land Naya Raipur Development Authority

Communities/Local Organisations in the

Non-Forest (Grazing Land), Non-Forest (Other than
Grazing Land) Conflict:
Nayi Raajdhaani Prabhaavit Kisaan Kalyaan Samiti
Farmers in the state have protested against the unfair land acquisition procedure followed
by the Naya Raipur Development Authority (NRDA) for constructing the new capital, Naya
Raipur.

At least 97 separate petitions filed in 2011 by the farmers are still pending in the
Chhattisgarh high court.

The affected farmers have demanded a better rate of compensation for their lands.

The acquisition has affected over 5,000 farmers so far who have lost their fertile lands.

In February 2012, the high court stayed the land acquisition proceedings owing to
allegations of coercion and fraud.

They also submitted a memorandum to the NRDA and the state chief secretary.

On November 7, 2017, 117 residents of Rakhi village were arrested and detained for two
hours as they were protesting against forceful evacuations and the subsequent
demolition of 21 houses.

In August 2019, the Chhattisgarh high court ruled in favour of one of the petitioners by
directing the NRDA to allocate land in place of the land acquired to the petitioner.
However, many of the cases are still pending.
 PRESENT MODEL
Land Acquisition is usually done for the purpose of public work building
infrastructure, urbanisation, development and industrialisation.

Government can also acquire land for private firms for setting up factories or other
industrial setups.

Purchase of land is a contract between willing buyer and willing seller, while in case
of land Acquisition the land owner has no choice. This is the reason right to property
is not a fundamental right.

As per the Doctrine of Eminent Domain, the state can do anything in public interest.

It is based on two latin political concepts-

1. Welfare of public is paramount

2. Public necessity is greater than private necessity
 A. According to the law, government (both state and central) can acquire
any land for:
- Public purpose, Public sector companies and Private sector companies. Public purpose has been
defined in the act and includes infrastructure, defence, development, agriculture and allied industries,
industrial corridors, mining, industrial corridors, manufacturing zones, housing, and other projects.

B. Compensation, Relief and Rehabilitation aspects of the law:

For rural areas - 4 times the market value of land acquired

❖ For urban areas - 2 times the market value

❖ People whose livelihood is dependent on these lands have to be paid a one time payment apart from
other compensations
❖ Provision of employment to one member of affected family
❖ In case of land acquired for private companies, the said company will be responsible for relief and
rehabilitation.
❖ If fertile land, the govt will have to develop an equal size of wasteland for agricultural purposes.
❖ If people live there, they have to be resettled.
C. Process of Land acquisition as per the Land Acquisition Act
2013:
❖ SIA done in consultation with respective local government. SIA is accessed
by state government
❖ After approval, a public notification is published in official gazette and 2 local
newspapers
❖ 60 days are given for people to raise objection
❖ Land survey is done along with relief and rehabilitation assessment
❖ Land is marked, measured and planned
❖ Claims regarding acquisition and relief and rehabilitation is settled