State of strife Enlarge view Is India building its developmental house from the roof down, with a non-existent foundation? Arun Kumar, professor of economics at the Jawaharlal Nehru University in Delhi, thinks so.

Or, how to bend over to please industry POSCO needs 300 million tonnes of coal for 30-35 years of operation. So, on July 26, 2006, the state government recommended to the Centre that the company be allotted coal blocks in Chhendipada-I, Baitarani West, and Chhendipada-II for captive mining. The latter two have already been allotted to other companies. If, however, the company obtains

Jual Oram shoots off a stinker Jual Oram, (then) state president of the BJP, in coalition with Orissa chief minister Naveen Patnaik

Special economic zones and sit-ins. Mega-projects and marches. Public-private partnerships and pitched battles. Precociously, because they are desperate, state governments are willing to hand land, forest, water over to industry.

Raucously, because they are really desperate, people all over India have begun to use all available means to contest the usually coercive intrusion of the State into their lives, and livelihoods.

Consider, as symptom, the Orissa government

21 February, 2006: Anti-POSCO groups demonstrate against the visit of the then Panchayati Raj Minister, Dr Damodar Rout 8 December, 2006: Anti-POSCO convention held at Balitutha February, 2007: Polling for panchayat elections could not be held on some booths in Dhinkia following protests 13 October, 2007: Four POSCO-India executives taken hostage and beaten up 29 November, 2007: