Mamata’s Singur test

Those unwilling had refused compensation from the government and insisted on getting back the land that had provided them their livelihood. Most of these farmers,who thrived on the produce from their fields,now work as sharecroppers on others’ land or as labourers in Kolkata.

Those willing face as much uncertainty following the pullout of Tata Motors. The factory would have given them work. Now,the compensation they had taken from the government is dwindling.

Since the Tatas left two-and-a-half years ago,both groups have been waiting for Mamata Banerjee to deliver on her separate promises,the “unwilling” farmers for their land and the “willing” ones for a factory on 600 acres. The area has been voting Trinamool in all elections since the agitation.

“My only hope is Didi,” says Samar Nangal,53,of Bajemelia village,whose four-bigha plot is part of the Tata project site.

“It was multicrop land. They built a road on my land in front of my eyes. Once,I tried to resume cultivation but CPM cadres beat me up,” says Nangal. “Now I am a sharecropper and can barely manage my family’s meals.”

Mamata is aware how keenly farmers are waiting and that their patience is on edge. “You have waited so long,” she said at a rally close to Singur. “Just wait 10 more days after you vote on May 3 and all the insecurity and uncertainty will end.” She did not specify how.

Rabindranath Bhattacharya,Trinamool MLA defending the seat against the CPM’s Asit Das,gives an indication how complicated the task ahead is. “We have decided we will set up a rail factory on 600 acres and return 400 acres to unwilling farmers,” he says.

“We have to think of those farmers whose land has become infertile after construction by the Tatas. Returning this land will be of no use. According to Mamata’s plan,we will distribute the 400 acres among all the unwilling farmers. Of course,not everyone will get back his exact plot,or as much land as he lost. But we will compensate at market price for whatever land we cannot return.”

Local Trinamool leaders are worried about the fact that no provision is in place for returning land acquired once acquired by the government. Bhattacharya says,“Land has to be given back to the farmers,come what may. The situation is very sensitive. If needed we will have to amend the act.”

Haradhan Adak,who had 1.5 bighas,says the land is no longer cultivable. “I joined the Trinamool movement because leaders said they would help us get our land back. I want as much useful land back after Didi comes. If we don’t get what was promised,we will start a movement against the new government too.”

Among those who surrendered land willingly is Bikas Pakhira,40,of Jaimollah village. He sold over 3 bighas at Rs 2.57 lakh a bigha,underwent training for eight months before the Tatas had to leave without setting up the factory that would have given him a job. Now working at “low pay” with a security firm,he says he is waiting for “Mamata’s factory”.

The Trinamool has had the Singur Assembly seat since 2001,before the agitation. In 2006 it won with a slender margin,1,787,and went on to win the panchayat polls in 2008. After the Tatas left,Mamata was criticised for driving them out but the subsequent elections showed how little that counted. Her party won the Hooghly Lok Sabha seat,of which Singur is a part,with a 22,363-vote margin and followed it up with victory in the 2010 civic polls.

The CPM has been dismissing the Trinamool’s promises to return land and set up a factory. Those who drove away the Tatas are now talking of new industries,leaders have said. Should the Trinamool come to power,a likely CPM agitation against industrialisation could well put the boot on the other foot.