INTERVIEW : RATAN TATA

‘We’d move, whatever the cost, to protect our people’

Posted: Saturday, Aug 23, 2008 at 2340 hrs IST
Updated: Saturday, Aug 23, 2008 at 2340 hrs IST

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: made this large investment of about Rs 1500 crore, we will not move, then they are wrong. It is not a hypocritical investment. We would move whatever the cost to protect our people. I can’t bring our managers and their families to West Bengal if they’re going to be beaten, if there is violence constantly, if their children are scared to go to school, and surely that is not what West Bengal is. Being a highly intelligent and a literate state I think it has tremendous potential. The people of West Bengal, be it in agriculture or industry, I think have a rightful place in the prosperity of India. We hope to help bring prosperity to the state. However, if the state, for any reason, any segment of the state feels we are exploiting them, we will exit.

What exactly is your anxiety—the violence or worse?

My concern is no specific issue other than the fact that if there’s a sense of tension, violence and disruption, obviously it is not a conducive environment. I have to applaud all the people who have been working at the site under tremendous tension. Our compound walls have been broken, people have been coming in, and material is being stolen. We can’t open and operate a plant under police protection.

Do you regret coming to Bengal?

No, I don’t. I am an optimist. I have, unknown to most of you, lived in Jamshedpur for 6 years. I know West Bengal well; have spent a lot of time here and thus have had a very soft corner for the state, which led me to take the decision. The last thing I want is a feeling that Tatas are unwanted in West Bengal. Under those circumstances we could just revert back. Tata’s did not invest in any major way in West Bengal for many years. This is our token. Yes, we donated a hospital, which will be operational in March or April 2009. That has nothing to do with the industrial decision we made. What we have looked at is that all our company is looking at West Bengal. Be it in power, metalics, and coking coal or as a place for industrialisation. At the same time we are extremely sensitive to the rural community and I think Tata’s, more then anyone else, are sensitive to the need for rural community to be uplifted. We have...

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