{greenyouth} ‘Smart City only supports the corporates’

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KOCHI

May 14, 2007

‘Smart City only supports the corporates’
Monday May 14 2007 09:51 IST
<http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&ct=res&cd=1&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.newindpress.com%2FNewsItems.asp%3FID%3DIEX20070513232950%26Page%3DX%26Title%3DKochi%26Topic%3D0%26&ei=S-FPRr_TCaeesAK409neDQ&usg=AFrqEzdnnM-QOcHF3UZp89_GXePGalw-iw&sig2=U7EHf7p_lkMm8uaiair5jg>

KOCHI: Just as the Smart City agreement was signed at
Thiruvananthapuram, heralding a new chapter for the state’s development,
a seminar on ‘Smart City and Changing Kerala Society’ was held in Kochi
on Sunday.

The whole state is celebrating the big event, but speakers at the
seminar pointed out the negative points in the agreement and the project.

The seminar was organised jointly by the Institute for Social and
Ecological studies, Kozhikode, Moving Republic, Thrissur, Keraleeyam and
Haritha Mythri, Angamali. Speaking at the programme, Nizar Ahmad,
faculty member of Sree Sankara University, Kalady, said that the Smart
City project was against the IT policy of the State Government. He
alleged that the project had nothing to do with the local economy.

“It only supports the corporates,” he said. “Among seven technopolises
in India, Bangalore is the only surviving city. It is because of the
booming BPO industry there. The same will be the case in Kochi,” he said.

As far as software development is concerned, the LDF Government is
trying to put forward neo-liberal policies, said C K Raju, MES College,
Kuttippuram. The government is not sure about the job opportunities
available through the project. “The concept of a centralised effort like
Smart City has no role and in the long run, we need creative space,” he
said.

The organisers of the seminar are planning to forward an appeal to the
Chief Minister suggesting to put on hold the agreement with TECOM, to
explore alternatives with civil society participants and to restore land
resource to the displaced.

The speakers at the seminar also suggested that the government should
implement decentralised projects and publish research efforts. “The
government should take care to set up SEZs only after extensive
referendums are carried out,” they said.
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Received on ഞാ മെ 20 2007 - 11:29:42 IST