In Chapter 1, we saw what may be development for one may be destructive for others. The setting of SEZs has been opposed by some people in India. Find out who are these people and why are they opposing it.
The people opposing SEZs include workers who are affected by the changing industrial conditions. They oppose SEZs because workers face hardships and difficult working conditions in many industrial units.
Moreover, workers in the organised sector no longer get the protection and benefits they enjoyed earlier. The conditions of work increasingly resemble the unorganised sector, where workers have fewer rights and securities.
While SEZs provide world class facilities and tax exemptions to companies for an initial period of five years, the workers do not benefit equally. This reflects the idea that development for one may be destructive for others.
Explanation
The textbook context discusses how SEZs are being set up to attract foreign investment with world-class facilities and tax benefits for companies. However, it also highlights the hardships faced by workers — particularly how organised sector workers are losing their earlier protections and benefits, and working conditions are resembling the unorganised sector. The question connects this to Chapter 1's theme that development for some can be destructive for others. Students should identify workers as the affected group and explain their concerns regarding loss of job security, benefits, and deteriorating working conditions.
Solution Steps
Step 1: Identify from context that SEZs provide benefits to companies (tax exemptions, world-class facilities).
Step 2: Note that workers face hardships and organised sector workers are losing protection and benefits.
Step 3: Connect this to the theme that development for one (companies) may be destructive for others (workers).
Step 4: Conclude that workers oppose SEZs due to deteriorating working conditions and loss of rights.