As per the conventional definition of development such an industry will generate employment for locals. And, these wineries will exploit local resource which is abundant in the target region. That’s a good card to convince pro tribal environmentalists and organizations. So, this announcement would have been treated as “positive political news”.
But, that’s an old story as the announcement was made last year. What’s new is that recently a television journalist rang me up asking about Mahua tree. He wished to add an environmental aspect to this story! A political reporter working with a Marathi media thinking of a political announcement from environmental point of view is a rare thing to happen. I wish we get some more of them in near future!
Now let’s take a look at some points this TV reporter can add to his story; forest minister has announced that the government will give the winery license to whoever asks for it along with a slew of incentives. What does he mean by ‘whoever’? Why did he speak only of ‘a slew of incentives’? And, didn’t he speak of conditions to be imposed on outsiders to help involve more number of locals in the project?
Has the government included social and environmental costs in the production cost of the Mahua wine? I mean, Is the government - especially forest minister - aware of the fact that a large scale extraction of any natural resource does have long term impacts on the ecosystems, and so does the monoculture? What the government has planned to avoid these impacts?
Do the answers to these questions turn out to be satisfactory even after crosschecking with the experts (experts not related to the project or government of course)? And a ground reality checks… what say locals have on this offer? Do they want it?
Considering these points, now tell me will it remain a mere positive political story?
- Reshma
Ultimate Reshma
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