An Unmet Goal of Development: The Tale of Industrial Belt

Abstract

A few decades ago, the region which is now known as Durgapur, was in the lap of forest. There were a number of self-sufficient villages until the middle of 1950s. Geographically the area is located on the bank of river Damodar in the state of West Bengal. With the taming of the river by setting up a barrage, the entire area started emerging as a prospective region for massive industrial development. The vast nonarable land, the river water, ready transport and communication facilities fulfilled the necessary conditions for industrial growth and it became a dream land of Dr. B.C. Roy who visualized an all-round development in the region. However, today's reality speaks for itself and one having a sense of optimism can only afford to say that Shri Roy's objectives have been achieved partially. The decision to locate a large scale public sector steel plant at Durgapur in the Burdwan district changed the economic, social and cultural complexion of the area. Gradually people in the villages found that they were drawn into the independent India's industrialisation process. The independent India's decision makers guided by Nehru sought larger projects. Enormous capital was concentrated in these large projects with the hope of intensifying the returns to enable the eradication of poverty in the country as well as to achieve self-reliance. Durgapur over time became a fertile land for industries which accommodates heavy industries and many ancillary industries. As a matter of fact all big projects involve displacement of people from land and livelihood. Durgapur was also no exception to it. The people displaced from the land had no option but to unlearn their skills as cultivators and non-agricultural employment became the main source of livelihood for many. People couldn't make anything meaningful out of the compensation they had received from the government. Over time the industrial belt became an attraction for the outsiders who started migrating from the adjacent districts and states with a perceived economic benefit but finally got caught into a phase of difficult life situation. Today one finds that Durgapur faces the ugly face of industrialisation and it appears that the fruits of development did not percolate down to the ordinary people in the surrounding areas but in the industrial township only which came up at the cost of forest, land, livelihood and the people who originally lived in and around that belt.