The National Executive of the CPI consider that the hasty and arbitrary manner in which the government of India has signed the FTA with ASEAN, without discussing the matter in Parliament, without consultation with states and without preparing the people to face tough competition from ASEAN, is an undemocratic act, which goes against the very principles of democracy and federalism.
Although the discussion of FTA with ASEAN started as far back, as 2003, the Government of India never had taken the states and people into confidence.
As this agreement would adversely affect the interest of agriculture, fisheries, traditional industries, service sector etc. which are largely state subjects the Centre should have taken initiative to discuss all aspects of the proposed agreement with state governments for planning advance actions. Even when states asked for details of the FTA, it was denied to them, until the agreement was signed.
With the signing of this agreement, as it comes into force in 2010, India will have to face in competition in the field of agriculture, fisheries, traditional Industries, food processing and service sector including banking, insurance, I.T tourism etc.
In the face of mounting opposition to FTA Government of India has said that a Committee has been appointed to study the problems. It also said that in the agreement, there is provision for a “Negative list” which would take care of the interest of agriculture. These are belated actions insufficient to meet the threat that we are facing.
In the interest of the country and people the FTA with ASEAN should be scrapped.
But, as the Government is going ahead the CPI demand that the following should be done immediately.
1. A comprehensive study on the impact of this agreement be made by an expert Committee in which representatives of the peasants and workers shall be included along with other stake-holders.
2. As an interim measure the Government of India should prepare an economic package for taking necessary steps to help the peasants and agriculture, so that the productivity and production be enhanced rapidly for enabling them to fce the challenge.
3. The state should be consulted and the negative list be made more comprehensive, so that the omission in the list such as items like pepper should be corrected. It should also be ensured that the item included in the negative list would not be allowed to enter the Indian market in the processed form also.
The CPI calls upon the people, especially the peasants and rural masses, to organise movements and agitations on the question of the FTA with ASEAN countrywide, to achieve the above goals.
Posts
0 comments:
Post a Comment