Manner of land acquisition in WB a mistake: Amartya Sen

Despite the "overwhelming" need for industry in West Bengal, the manner in which the state government acquired land for the purpose was a "mistake," Nobel laureate economist Amartya Sen has said.

"There is an overwhelming need for industry so that this poor state can flourish again. (But) The way that land was acquired was a mistake. If one needs industry, there has to be land, but acquisition of land should have been the last resort," Sen said at an interaction after the 3rd Annual Penguin Lecture here last evening.

Sen said the results of the Lok Sabha election had vindicated the fact that there had been some agitation among the people over the government's policy of land acquisition for industry.

Without naming any party, the economist said the opponents of land acquisition, however, would have to understand that reduction of poverty could not be achieved by agriculture alone

"This (agriculture) has to go hand in hand with industry."

He said while there were unwilling land losers, there were others who lost the opportunity of being employed in industry. "The question is about bringing this to public debate."

The state had witnessed a large-scale agitation over land acquisition in Singur for the Tata's Nano car project. The unit was later shifted to Gujarat.

Earlier, delivering a lecture on 'Justice - And India' based on his new book 'The Idea of Justice,' Sen pointed out that owing to conflicting theories, it may not be possible to resolve all questions about justice that may be raised.

"The question is what remedy about injustices can be identified. What is important is to recognise that it is not crucial to arrive at the definition of a perfectly just society," he said.

Stating that the idea of justice could be made "exciting" by practical reason, he said, "What is needed (in society) is an agreement based on public reason."

Sen said there were need for international reforms to make the world free from "injustices" like child undernourishment, lack of basic medical attention for the poor, absence of basic school facilities and gender inequality.

Referring to the Indian concept of 'matsanyaya' (the justice of the fish where the bigger ones eat the smaller ones), he said, "It is crucial to ensure that the justice of the fish is not allowed to invade the world of human beings."